Middletown Council Against Straight Party Ballot

On your ballot you can fill-in the arrow & vote a straight Party ticket. It's like one-stop shopping. Quick and dirty. Some people don't like this- OMG. Witness Operation Clean Government- a Republican front if I've ever seen one.

In the past this item has proven to be backed by mostly (well, all) Republicans. Heaven forbid actually putting forth some decent candidates or a philosophy that R.I.'ers can adopt. But lately, a few Dems have jumped on the bandwagon.

With a heavily Democratic lege, this bill doesn't have much backing. Surpise, surprise. While some have come out in its favor, it's pretty much a red herring. While a local legislator may say they favor it, they also know that it will never make it out of a lege committee hearing. It will just be set aside for "further study." Lege hearings don't make it to the local rag. It may not even involve YOUR legislator.

So all this talk is just that- conversation.

So, setting all this aside, let me discuss what happened at the T.C. meeting. It was Councilor Silveira who put forth a resolution supporting a bill eliminating this straight ticket voting option. Sounds good; means little, but I digress. He was not there last night. Usually, when a Councilor is absent, they postpone discussing whatever he's put forth on the agenda. They did NOT do so last night (he's been in the hospital). So why not? Hmm. Let me ponder... You knew it all would pass & you didn't want him there to take any credit for it. Can't think of anything else. You're supposed to play nice together. Only one cookie for break, but you can still have your milk. BTW, his name is SILVEIRA. Forget the SilverIA monikker. It comes off mean & petty.

Former Sen. June "Let's not let facts get in the way" Gibbs spoke to the pending bill. While reading from prepared her prepared text she was outstanding! She compared it to the original straight Party lever when you could actually view the 'X's" marked under names. No-can-do now. Good point. She also pointed out that when you mark this item now, some forget to vote in non-partisan elections. Another good point.

Ah, but it couldn't last & then she blew it. 10% difference in Middletown between those voting for T.C. & School Committee. You're supposed to conclude that this is because people forget to vote because of that damned master lever. Au contraire, that % is baloney. Kellie DiPalma rec'd more votes for School Committee than ANYONE rec'd for T.C. Same thing for some of the referenda. How many actually used that Master arrow here? 1635 for DiPalma (out of 6558 total votes) and 827 (out of 5955 votes)for Gibbs. Would the results have changed without the lever? Hard to believe. The difference in voting for various offices or items frequently happens now and in the past. Nothing to do with the straight ticket stuff. But why let actual facts get in the way? Yeah, fairness.

She also brought up Sen. Chuck Levesque's name a few times as formerly backing this bill. Yup, appeal to the liberals out there, not to mention the Dems. She also mentioned that he denied it but she had "proof." Ah, former math major Gibbs is certainly play foot-loose & fancy free with her logic. If Chuck supported it- it MUST be good (and non-partisan)

When the script went down, we the just-begun voyage into la-la land continued. Councilor Santos voiced the opinion that approval of this bill would "have voters really scrutinize." Better watch out here. Since you barely made the Council, that scrutinizing too carefully could cost you! Some out of you out there (and you know who you are) are BLOODY STUPID! You're just not voting the right way! The good former Senator then stated that it would "take away those who blindly vote." Gee, I wonder who THEY might be and exactly where are we going to take them? Might I suggest Guantanamo?

She then went even further suggesting that this would result in better candidates. ??? Rather than educating voters regarding straight ticket voting (God forbid that), she ventured that both she AND the Board of Elections are unsure of whether or not it would be an overvote (not counted) if you voted straight ticket AND THEN voted for non-partisan school committee.

Say What? Hello!! Big problem here! If you did this (and you should) -when you fed your ballot through the scanner, you would IMMEDIATELY receive an ERROR message. You could then have your ballot voided & vote again (this from the town Voter Registrar). But this isn't true!

Instead of challenging this rather important point, Council Bozyan asked her if this bill passage amounted to solving a mechanical problem rather than a philosophical one. Not to be picky, but we're talking about a computer & software system here (voting). None of it is mechanical. Perhaps you meant a systemic problem? Either would required a "fix" rather than a law. Since we ALL know that this has NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS (a frenquent mantra whenever this topic is brought up). It's about fairness. Whatever.

To make a long story short- it passed. Do I care? I'm not really against this. I do know as a young mom with a screaming baby, this straight Party option is a decided convenience. I also know as a senior with a rapidly increasing hand tremor and LONG LINES, this is a decided voting option on very LONG & complex ballots. None of this figures very high on my "must change" list. But that's me.

Farewell, Sen. June Gibbs

The NDN front page above the fold proclaims: "June Gibbs got things done her way." I wasn't going to comment on it. Nope. Let it stand on it's own. Then my husband came home with the NDN which he'd read at Tim Horton's along with a sandwich. He was mad as a hornet while saying if that's how they were going to spend his tax money, he was on his way out of this state. How stupid are the voters anyway? I knew what he was talking about.

I've actually given up asking this question since I know the answer all too well- any country that could vote for Geo. Bush TWICE ain't way up on the i.q. charts.

"But she also knows how to get things done. One of her biggest achievements was a bill prohibiting new billboards. It was controversial at the time and the industry heavily lobbied Senate leaders to block the legislation. It did not look promising." She got it passed.

That's it. A 26 yr. career in the Lege & that's her accomplishment. Forget that billboards are subject to zoning. She got it done. They also pay taxes.

June, I could have given a better answer than that for you. She is, after all, a Republican liberal dinosaur. That's how she survived. She'd pick up endorsement after endorsement- Marriage Equality Rhode Island, Ocean State Action, Clean Water Action, the Sierra Club (you get my drift). Not so our current Senator-elect who is about as conservative a Democrat as you can get. Why did they give them? She'd support many of their issues & then they could pride themselves & advertise on being non-partisanship. So how did that work out for you? Shame on you. Her support likely cost you needed votes. You had the opportunity to support others but chose not to do so.

A billboard law. 1990. It restricts adding any new ones. And thanks to the NDN for repeatedly endorsing her along with any Republican who could spell their own name drunk or sober.

Her project now besides cleaning her house is eliminating the so-called party lever. We would have been better off for 26 yrs. if she'd spent more time cleaning her house. The party lever-with all the problems we've got, she choses the lever. The stupid lever which wouldn't make a darn bit of difference.

God bless you, June, a decent well-intentioned woman. You deserved better. It's not the reporter's fault. He just asked the questions. He doesn't even assign titles. We all deserved better. How stupid do they think we are? Very. How stupid are they? Same answer. We get exactly what we deserve.

I refuse to bang my head on the wall any longer. I've got laundry to do. Goes in dirty, comes out clean. Every politicans' dream. A least June was always clean & showed up. What the heck were you talking about and why? Making chocolate chip cookies good enough for the Senate Speaker or not, I'm surprised that they didn't run your recipe. When can I expect the article on former Rep. Bruce Long? Wonder if he's a baker, too?

Too bad you haven't disassociated yourself from the Republican Party unlike your hero Chafee. They didn't exactly knock themselves out trying to get you reelected. But that's because you're viewed as a dinosaur in your own Party. It will be fun watching who they get to run & take your place in the next election. It's a wide-ranging district after all.

Thanks to NDN reporter Joe Baker for this informative report. Not only is my house cleaner, but so, too, my clothes. A clear case of it being better to keep one's mouth shut & having people think that you're an idiot rather than opening your mouth & removing all doubt.

Sen. June Gibbs is a Republican!

File this under: I can't stop laughing! I rec'd a postcard mailer from her campaign today. Why on earth you'd target a house full of Dems escapes me, but what do I know. It's in FULL COLOR yet- a first! Her campaign actually spent some moola. Gee, maybe that 47% vote I got actually lit a fire that some real campaigning may be called for.

Great pic- she's standing in black in front of the Statehouse. Hello, fashion police: needed. Sorry, like I said nice pic for a funeral. My top-notch political advisor (I'm not joking here) said no-go on statehouse pics. Bad connoation; but again, what do I know?

Now last time the fact that she was a Republican was on her logo & her mailings. Not this time. Nary a whisper that 4 yrs. ago she was part of the R.I. Bush re-election camaign and likely just returned with former Rep. & now CFO of the Transit & Bridge Authroity's Christine Callahan. In Projo's article by reporter JOHN E. MULLIGAN, Chris is quoted as a "a self-described “John Chafee Republican.”

Hello! Chafee finally woke up to the new Republican Party & is now an Ind. campaigning for Obama. The Rep. Party left you & June & Eileen Slocum behind a long time ago. They really do not want you. Nor Rep. Bruce Long either. But you're better than the alternative, I guess.

June & I actually agree on many things and are far more alike than disalike. The trouble is that June is ineffective because she's in the minority in the minority.

The front pic refers to her as "a strong, independent State Senator." Now, really, isn't this a bit disingenuous. Yeah, the "I" in "independent" isn't capitalized, but outside of a few English teachers, who's going to notice that? You'd never surmise that she's a REPUBLICAN.

Now I don't want to be picky (well, I actually do) , but June collected $7000 in aggregate contributions. That means that no one contributed $100 or more from individuals. Hope she kept a list of $ givers because I doubt it. Strange as the in-kind contribution from the Atlantic Beach Club owner is only $1000. So how many could you feed there for that kind of $? How much was a ticket? Not much as I recall. Someone enlighten me, please. Now where's the money spent for web hosting on the financial filings? This mailer must have blown about half of your $. Better get out there & fund-raise. Or maybe the Republicans (oops, I forgot), the small "i" independents will fund you. I'll be watching those filings because I know how much these campaigns costs. And because I'd rather do that than housework anyday.

Here is her website: http://www.senatorjunegibbs.com/

Enjoy! But don't bother unless you want to see her old REPUBLICAN logo. There is nothing there. Last time it was just a dupe of her lege website which wasn't much. She does have an actually e-mail address to take the place of her old silly one: June@senatorjunegibbs.com

Now one of her d abullets mystifies me: "Advocating for education." When? Where? I remember when the Guv cut the school budget & awarded the cut funds to charter schools which we didn't have at the time (we now have a small one in Newport). She was all for it. She was also on the recent fair funding for school committee. So how did that work out for you?

She also is "helping you access state gov't." I hope that's working out better than her website. Too bad her own Party's guv (I won't say the Party name) vetoed a recent open access bill.

By the way, the support for good ole George W. Bush- that working out any better? June was also an early McCain supporter this year. Where's the pic with him on the front? Now, I know that you have one, June. I for one would LOVE to see it. The McCain/Paline one, too. Heck, put them up on your website. Why not?

Look, I'm really trying to be fair here. So which part have I got wrong? Keep that sunshine shining! Watch what your legislators are doing (and saying). No one, no matter how nice they are, or what their age or their sex is, get a pass -EVER. This stuff is just too important.

Carlin Supports McCain for Pres.

Thanks to Matt at RIFuture for the heads-up. Dave Carlin is a current Newport School Committee member who recently decided NOT to run for re-election. He is a former Dem. Senate Majority Leader. He is now listed under prominent Dem & Inds. for McCain. Strange times...

I'll do the list again of local Republican leaders supporting McCain:

Mayor Waluk
our Senator Gibbs
former Rep. Christine Callahan

Gambling Veto Doublespeak

**Update** The veto was overridden- no suprise there. The Guv said he vetoed because Newport & Lincoln had a right to determine their own operational hours. He didn't think much of towns/cities thought when he expanded gambling a few years ago or when he cut their aid this year. You can't have it both ways- at least logically or ethically. In the state's current fiscal crisis, it was rather easy for the guv to veto knowing it wouldn't really hold & the monies would be added anyway. Doublespeak.

The Guv vetoed the bill to expand gambling hours in Newport & Lincoln. The real surprise is how our Sen. Gibbs brought herself firmly for & against this expansion. It's really quite amazing. Instead of just not being able to make up her mind or her vote "not counting" June came down firmly on both sides of this issue in the Lege.

She voted FOR the amendment awarding more $ to both Newport & Lincoln regarding increased revenue from extra hours going to both cities. She then voted NO on the bill itself to increase the hours. Amazing how you can be both for & against something at the same time. Hat's off. Much like the Guv who presided over the largest expansion gambling in the State all the while stating that he was against gambling. Talk about speaking out of both sides of your mouth....

Weak & Inconsequential District Leadership

There is an opinion column in today's Projo by J. Michael Levesque- former Republican state chairman, and two-term mayor of West Warwick. In it he opines on the state of the once powerful Republican Party & the lack of leadership emanating from their defacto leader- Governor Carcieri.

the once powerful Republican Party has become so weak and inconsequential that it’s a rare sight to see a candidate for public office put the party label on his or her lawns signs.

He continues in his would-be elegy:

the now anemic five senators, who despite their talent and best intentions, like their counterparts in the House, are largely ignored by the Democratic leadership, the Republican Party seems a ship without a rudder.

That's us, folks! WE have one of the anemic senators ignored by Senate leadership. Which begs the more important and essential question: WHY? Are we out of our minds? Senator Gibbs was one of the legislators on the Permanent School Funding Formula Committee which just put forth the legislation reducing our area's funding from the state. Heard any comments from her?


The answer is: yes, we are out of our minds. Constantly re-electing a long-time Republican Senator who, btw, rec'd the second lowest majority in the last election after a quarter century of no turnover (she believes in term limits) paces us in the elk of, please shoot me in the foot. The Newport Daily News with its insane unspoken endorsement policy of half Dems & half Republicans, purporting to support us in the long term with the promise of a "balanced" Legislature, is NUTS!

In the "long term," we'll all be dead.

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.

The Guv's Budget Plan

The Guv spoke to the "Newport Daily News" about his plan to cut $200 mil from the State budget in his "Media Tour" to bolster support for this. He plans to cut 1000 workers from the State payroll as follows: 150 temps, 500 from leavings or jobs not filled, "125 from the administrative workforce within the five state departments providing human service assistance, because the five have been combined under one overall director: the newly created health and human service secretariat," and the rest (225 by my count) layoffs (which will take at least 5 mos.). He's looking to save a mil here.
He hopes to achieve another $50 mil in Union concessions (I'm sure he's got his fingers crossed), and another $50 mil in program cuts slicing welfare benefits by raising the threshold & decreasing time length. Stupid you for being poor (or jobless). Plenty of jobs at McDonald's or Tim Horton's.
He also encourages departments not under his authority to cut costs. "Carcieri ruled out raising revenue through taxes, but did say the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority has talked about possibly raising the toll to cross the Pell Bridge." Yes, that's great news for those who have no choice but to use it daily, inc. URI students.
He will not increase revenues. Uh, that's why he's vetoed Newport's bill to increase property taxes on time shares 3x. However, the Lege recently overrode this one (about time, too). Wonder how our Rep. delegation voted? Sen. Gibbs has voted for it & against it. Guess this was just one of the times she couldn 't make up her mind. Perhaps the Lege will even update its site to include a journal for Oct. 30 so that we can find out.
Regarding raises in his office, "(Salaries of $100,000) sounds like a lot of money to the average Rhode Islander ... but it's not," Let's see, the average household income in Middletown is slightly over $50,000, $40,000 in Newport, $55,000 in Little Compton, and slightly over $50,000 in Tiverton. Yeah, one salary over $100,000 not only SOUNDS like a lot of dough, IT IS!
Regarding the flap over his criticism of State interpreters, his thoughts now are that in non-court areas, "We need to have people come here and learn the language," he said. "We don't want to provide them a crutch by providing those services." Nope, especially if they're entitled to those services.
No problemo with virtual blackjack video games at Newport Grand. "But he said he would not support 24-hour gambling at the two slot halls unless the local community supported it." Hey, the line of an anti-casino Guv needs to be drawn someplace. He's done more to advance gambling in this state than anyone. File this under, "don't make me laugh."
I'm still wondering what happened to all those "Big Audit" savings? Yes, indeedy, the coming Lege session should prove quite entertaining. And we could have had Charlie Fogarty.
And thanks, to the "Daily News" for endorsing this man & giving us 3 more wonderful years.

Thanks to reporter Joe Baker & other Daily News staffers for the article.

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.

Teachers in Middletown & Tiverton Play the Waiting Game

**Update in Tiverton.** Union leader Amy Mullen has released a letter that schools will start on time, although hope for a new contract is quickly fading. The School Committee is stalling talks and this will be the second year that Tiverton teachers have no new contract. Last yr. they were in a similar position & it was decided to roll-over the current contract. I am not sure exactly how that translated, but oftentimes it means that salaries are frozen. The Tiverton teachers are disappointed, to say the least, especially after "[coming] up with an alternative health care solution that will provide a significant decrease in health care costs to the School Department.
Having been through this myself all too often, it makes for strained relations and staff could well fall back on "working-to-contract" meaning that they refuse to do anything not specifically mentioned in their agreement.
Tiverton is facing money worries, and this is the future of all the towns/cities in our District. The town & the Union need to speak with each other.


Tiverton still has no contract. This is not a good sign.
When I first ret'd a few years ago I took a summer ceramics class at the Art Museum. There was a Ct. teacher there who spoke to me about R.I. who always seemed to have these pending strikes every year in some town/city. In Ct. they have State-mandated arbitration. She said that a lot of people in R.I. were against it & they had been in Ct. also. They feared that decisions would lean too heavily towards labor. Not true, she said. They were pretty fair & even-handed & decisions favored both sides - labor & management.
But we haven't gotten to that point yet. School committees are against it & that seems to be the bottom line.
The current process is not fair to school staff, students, & parents. And, more importantly, it often just does not work.
In Middletown we still have 14 staffers who have not yet been recalled, though they still may. School committees tend to rehirer fast than they did when I was laid off because they now have to pay Unemployment. And that's costly for them.
I still do not have the names of any of the Middletown layoffs, & if anyone would like to furnish them, I'll print them. This is the first time I've ever seen that names weren't made public. Why?
Some of these problems have to be attributed directly to the State Lege which seems to be playing a yearly game of chicken with the Guv regarding the funding of education & social services. This year the Lege played the part of the heavy, while in other years it was the Guv. And some years they actually played well together.
It may be noted that Rep. Rice voted to increase the education budget. Sen. Gibbs did, too, but I don't count that for much since in other years she has not.
**If someone in either town wants to keep me updated, like Ross Perot, I'm "all ears."

Sen. Gibb's Plan to Save the State

Senator Gibbs advocates on the "Daily News" Letter' page(no link) for low-speed electric, hybrid cars.
Woo-hoo! In her Aug. 18 letter, our District 12’s Senator Gibbs has solved the problem of high “fuel costs, ...and reduced pollution”, along with lowering our “dependency on foreign oil.” “The overall cost of electricity” would also be” reduced maximizing the output of our electrical grid. “ Automakers will flock here. And the only thing that we have to do, our first step, is to try once again to convince the Legislature to approve low-speed electric vehicles on our streets.
Of course, the vehicles are still in the development stage, but let’s plow on ahead. The fact that these vehicles are limited to 25 mph. is no problem. We’ll paint large “X’s” all over them –green, of course, so that everyone, including police, will recognize that these are “special” low-speed vehicles. Absolutely no one will mind traveling slower on streets when these cars are ahead of them.
Those coal miners need to quit their bellyaching and get back to work. We’ll need coal to fuel those power plants. And quit your whining about that acid rain. It helps keep your car squeaky clean
And you’re completely on target with saying goodbye to foreign oil expenses. We can use up our own natural resources instead. You really don't want to travel off the island, right? Good thing, because you won't be able to.
Brownouts/blackouts/power failures? Forgetabout it. We've only had a few this year.
This is also a clever idea to employ local electricians to supply us with the needed hookups. And I, too, share your faith that this “would actually reduce the overall cost of electricity.” Of course, since we’re using more of it, you may see a tad spike in your bill, but, it will be costing you less by the kilowatt hour.
Yes, the state should definitely guarantee any electric car manufacturer bringing this technology to New England that our state coffers “will purchase a certain number of vehicles” for its own use. We can use them here for the, um, State Police. The cost of these vehicles? Totally irrelevant. Yes, you can remain confident, Senator, that we “would purchase these cars.” I’m sure the dealers here would gladly offer special deals on purchases of under 25 mph vehicles when purchased with speedier cars.
On the same day that your letter appeared, a fish wholesaler considered leaving thereby probably eliminating any fishing fleet we still have, Father Jack empathized with the local homeless, and Atlantic and First Beaches were actually open (ignore Kings’ Park Beach & Third). But placing this high on your legislative agenda certainly brings us all back to reality of what the really important things are in our State.
Hmm, on second thought, perhaps this needs a little bit more work. But rest assured that it’s working great on Prudence Island where your legislation is in effect.

Her letter has so many holes in it that I don't even know where to begin. You'd be far better off in reading Tom Sgouras' report done for the Sierra Club, "Transportation Services in R.I." In fact, why don't you just subsribe to his "R.I. Policy Reporter?" Cheap & informative. What more could you ask for?

No, her plan isn't mentioned and I'm definitely not against fuel efficiency. But I'm also not going to bank on a plan that relies on the electric grid. I would be amenable to a better public transportation system, clean beaches (hello), healthcare coverage for all, etc., etc.
I also notice that the good Senator has two vehicles on her tax bill. Hey, since she lives alone maybe one would do? Or maybe she could just rely on her windsurfer.
Sometimes this is just too easy.

"Voters First Commission' Votes: Because We Say So

From the minutes of the June 18th meeting of the Sec. of State's Voters First Advisory Commission:

Senator June Gibbs-
A non-binding referendum has been submitted regarding eliminating the straight party ticket. The Commission has voted unanimously to support the bill [May 29].

Bill: S-293 calls for a non-binding referendum regarding the use of straight party ticket voting. Ooh, this is Sen. Gibbs bill. What happened? Held for further study - buried alive.
Commission Members Present & voting:
Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis
Senator June Gibbs
Representative Jon Brien
Ken McGill, Pawtucket Board of Canvassers
Bob Kando, Director, RI Board of Elections
Jan Ruggiero, Director, Secretary of State’s Elections Division

BTW, these May 29 minutes do not follow Open Meetings rules. It neglects to list absent members Rep Pichardo, Rep. Alemida, & Sue Stenhouse (duh!).

Excuse my ignorance here, but what's the purpose of hearings if you've already voted??? There wasn't even any discussion. Why are you traveling across the State even asking? Why not just vote now on the other items on your agenda & take a vacation? BTW, there were only 2 members from the public present at the 1 p.m. meeting. Hmm, guess it was kept kinda quiet. Wonder why?

File under Gimme A Break!

Less Baloney, Senator Gibbs, Please.

As a youngster my favorite lunch was baloney with Gulden's mustard on white bread. Occassionally cheese/lettuce, but I didn't want the taste of the baloney/mustard diluted. Yum.
But tastes change. Now I prefer actual recognizable meats with healthy additions. And I demand more from my lunch than a full belly.
Senator Gibbs is still feeding us baloney with mustard on white bread.
Her main lege goal this year was affordable health insurance (that went well, didn't it), creating a health care commission (guess a commissioner ain't enough) and to assign a health-care commissioner to the Dept. of Bus. Regs. (why?).
So I did a wild & crazy thing with my attached arrow through the head apparatus. I reviewed all the bills with her name on them. I checked anything to do with Healthcare /Business regs:
These are the results of her efforts: An employer with more than 25 employees must have a cafeteria healthcare plan that satisfies the IRS (employees pay). This bill came out of commitee. It passed! Affordable? Maybe, maybe not. Good coverage. Not exactly. That's why it's called a cafeteria plan.
That's it.
So what COULD she have sponsored? How about supporting lege extending the age of dependents to 30, an act specifing that reimbursement for mental illness providers shall be comparable to that paid for similar medical services, allowing visits by domestic partners to nursing home patients, and the "Health Care Affordability Act."
28 bills on which she was the lead sponsor. 4 bills falling into the category of Health & Safety. Kind of wonder what would have happened if affordable healthcare wasn't her priority. Or if she'd shown up every day & just not voted ("sometimes my vote just doesn't matter"). Maybe that quote works better if you leave out the "sometimes."
Talk about low expectations. We deserved better. Ah, 2008. What a year!

Part 1.

Our Beaches Some of the Dirtiest in the Country

"The Ocean State’s beaches were the fourth worst in the nation last year in terms of meeting national health standards for beach pollution, according to a national report released yesterday by a New York environmental watchdog agency. "
And which beaches top the list - hmm. Newport’s Easton’s Beach and the beach at Atlantic Beach Club in Middletown,
"And there is hope that the largest single root cause of Bay pollution, sewage overflow from Providence, can be neutralized. Next fall, Providence will complete the first phase of its Combined Sewage Overflow tunnel, which should capture the millions of gallons of rainwater and sewage that currently overflow the metropolitan sewer system during heavy rains.
“The best step Rhode Island can take to tackle beach closings is to tackle our pollution problems by funding upgrades to our sewer." So says Ernest Julian, chief of the Department of Health’s Office of Food Protection, which monitors pollution levels at state beaches.
What has the State done? Well this year a bill was finally passed regarding phasing out cesspools. Why does this matter? Four yrs. ago we had a bad fish kill & the lege held meetings on what they could do about it. Our Sen. Gibbs came out of the meeting saying that the #1 thing we could do was get rid of the cess pools in coastal areas, esp. Little C. So she sponsored a bill, and sponsored a bill, and sponsored a bill. This yr. a bill finally passed - sponsored by - someone else. A Democrat. Nice lady, absolutely useless in the State House.
We've been luckier this year with fewer closing than last year. Why fewer closings this year? Because of our excellent plan? No - BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN LESS RAIN. Middletown has replaced it's sewer line in the area & upgraded its pumping station. Yet if we receive an inch of rain or more - CLOSED.
We still are having runoff problems & no solution yet. And the polluted part of Third Beach isn't even on the agenda. Fix it! If Prov. needs help, give it to them. Many hours of time has been spent talking about trash removal. Let's get serious here & talk about our pollution problem. Why aren't we speaking to NOAA? Rep. Kennedy said in a speech that he wanted to help us out & secure funding. So let's take him up on it.
With the air quality down lately, and my asthma & allergies kicking in, the beach with it's better air quality is one of the few places I get any relief. But that's another article.

BTW, Light rain today. Thanks to Projo writer Daniel Barbarisi.

Sen. Gibbs - So Confused - Again!

YES ---- NO ----- ?

Sometimes she "just can't make up my [her] mind." Yep, she said that.

Like the condo tax change bill for Newport: 2007 - Yes

2006 - No

2005 - Yes

"No comment," on that one. "Sometimes it's hard to decide." Yep, said that too. "Everybody does it." That excuse wore out when I was 8. Said it right in front of "Daily News" reporters. Guess it just wasn't worth reporting. She also commented that, "You [me] just don't understand the process." Yup, that's me, ole' dopey Eileen.

So here is the list of other bills/amendments she didn't bother to vote on. She was there, just didn't vote. Good thing there are others there you can make up their minds.


1. 2007-S 791 THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C. SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

2. 2007-S 256 BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE AND DISCIPLINE

3. 2007-S 369 AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- LICENSED ACTIVITIES

4. 2007-S 872 SUB A AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- NONPROFIT HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SERVICE CORPORATIONS - an amendment

5. 2007-S 776 AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- VOTING DISTRICTS AND OFFICIALS

6. 2007-S 1051 SUB A SANITATION IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS

7. 2007-S 411 ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE -- FARMING

8. 2007-S 953 SUB A AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT

9. 230 SUB B - AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- THE USE OF THE NAMEOF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS(protect names of financial institutions)

10. Senate Bill No. 1014 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (require that recommendations made by the RIAAP be addressed when minorities are considered for appointment by the governor and general assembly and that a utilization analysis of appointments occur annually)

11. 2007-H 5778 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

12. 1143 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- AMERICAN AND DOMINICANOS/AS CULTURAL EXCHANGE COMMISSION {LC3438/1}

13. 2007-H 6502 JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ENACTING LEGISLATION TO EMPOWER PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS TO JOINTLY NEGOTIATE WITH HEALTH INSURERS

14. 2007-H 5549 SUB A ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE - UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT

15. 2007-H 6014 SUB A AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES

16. Senate Bill No. 1089 SUB A AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT {LC3167/1/A}

18. 2007-S 50 AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS -- COLLECTION OF FINES AND COSTS

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!

Happy 85th, Senator Gibbs

Happy 85th, Senator Gibbs. Her outstanding accomplishment is bringing a womens' room to the Senate a few years ago. Yep, Rhode Island is right on the cutting edge.

A nice, well-meaning, hard-working woman who joined the wrong political party & so was able to accomplish little in a heavily Democratic controlled Lege.

She also received the 2nd lowest majority of votes in the last election after more than a quarter century in the Lege.

"Out of Order" in Middletown

The "Daily News" in its "Cheers & Jeers" column today faults the Middletown Council for petty political bickering. Duh, where have they been the past few months? And who is to blame for this? I've certainly heard talk of reconciliation from the current Prez, coucillors Mello & "Inspector" Sylvia, but seen little beyond that.


The first hint that the all-out Democratic war (it's WAY beyond bickering) accelerated was when committee assignments were handed out. When Republican councillor "Mother Theresa" Santos was given more than TWO Democrats put together, it should have provided a hint. That was the place for the healing to start. Instead it's continued to be "our way or the highway," and "to the victor belongs the spoils." I've seen little movement from this stance except to further isolate councillors DiPalma & the "White Knight" Silveira. It will get much worse and the Daily News has done much to contribute to this.


DiPalma's legislative idea to increase Middletown's take from the hotel tax instead of sending the bulk of it to the Newport Co. Visitors' Center was one worth looking at. And if we'd had a better State Senator it might have stood a shot with some changes & a Council backing him. But they were totally disinterested & since Sen. Gibbs was the sole sponsor, it died.


The White Knight's idea to actually return some of our banked "rainy day" fundings & return them to the residents is gaining in popularity (duh). But he's given little if any credit for this because it was HIS idea. He is also the chief complainer along with DiPalma regarding the new public information policy. While the Snooze declares that it pertains only to councilors requesting public info records which then must be forwarded to the Council Prez, I disagree. I was at the meeting where it was discussed. It pertains to to ANYONE requesting records. You - me - a reporter -anyone! The Daily News agrees that this is a poor policy, but neglects to mention from where it originates.


The White Knight requested info on various monetary items - it's budget time! He dared to go where no man has gone before. He requested records regarding the Senior Center. The Prez's sis is the Director. Do you think that the Town Admin. (the man in between a rock & a hard place) made up this new policy on his own? Do you believe in the Easter Bunny? This request was not appreciated. Big deal. And all the requested info has NOT been received.


No budget is sacrosanct, especially when we're cutting school staffing, etc. We're the only community on the island running our Senior Center through town government, with considerably more $ than any other center. It deserves a second look at the very least.


The local Democratic Town Committee is now run by the "victors" after the past officers stepped aside (generously, I might add, since they could have won an in-house election). The Senior Center Dir. is the Vice-Chair.The town committee is now run exactly the same way the Council is - difference of opinion is not appreciated & former active members are on the "don't call us, we'll call you," list. That's why I was recently ruled out-of-order when I suggested adding two new members who were present. And I don't even bear any responsibility for not endorsing two sitting Democrats in the past election. I voted for them but they lost. Whose fault is that that other Democrats don't want anything to do with them??? One might & should ask why.


So expect more fireworks, especially the next Council meeting when much of this is brought up in a more formal manner & venue.


BTW, During the Dems meeting I also rec'd a dirty look & a biting comment. The same committee (different attending members) who used to stand up & clap whenever I entered the room. It's wasted effort. I was a teacher for 30 yrs., I've heard it all & have an advanced degree in "the evil eye." Listening to the meeting was like being with my Mom (who is Portuguese). No use arguing, just nod your head in agreement & do what you want. I learned a long time ago that's why I have two ears - let it go in one side & right out the other. Or just leave. I've been out-of-order all my life. I prefer to think of it as a good thing.


I've also been asked to "tone down" this blog so that the Dems "can come together." Gee, you think everyone would like each other then? I'm just reporting & commenting. I've seen how friends are treated ("Hello, Eileen" - insert shiv in back). Why bother? I think some of them have forgotten, "sic transit gloria." Today's big win can be tomorrow's big defeat. Politics is ALL about compromise. And compromise doesn't mean shutup, sit down, & be quiet. It's talking, listening, and showing some good will. Snotty remarks, nasty asides, & dirty looks aren't compromise. Where is the leadership here? Where is the "coming-together?" Saying it don't make it so. Now the group's rules are scheduled to be changed to limit membership (among other things) with a dare to provoke a primary. Yeah, togetherness, friendship, & good will. Working to promote the town's best interests. Ain't it great?

Legislative Grants for District 12

I know that you've been waiting with baited breath for this. Remember, this is OUR money. So what does one of the most senior State Senators (but one elected with the 2nd lowest majority) pull down for her district??

Middletown: $2000 (8 precincts)

Little Compton - 3 entities: $11,000 (2 precincts) (there are 14 total in District 12)

Big Sisters Newport Co. : $2000

R.I. Legal/Educational Partnership (Prov.) - they sponsor "Mock Trial" in high schools: $2000

6 groups with 3 in Little Compton.

This makes for a Grant Total of $15,000. Do you understand "gerrymandering?" Does "it's a good thing that Adamsville/Little C. is heavily Republican or I'd never win" register? How about spreading out what little $ you are able to obtain for us?

Now let's take a look at neighboring Sen. Levesque's district (P'mouth & Bristol).

13 groups

Grant Total: $26,000 (almost evenly divided in district)

Sen. Felag - Tiverton: $26,500. 23 groups.

Think this is unusual? Think again. Maybe we should all call ourselves "Little Compton."

BTW: From last year (sorry, link is gone):
Felag, Jr. (Bristol, Tiverton, & Warren) $21,500 - 21 grants
Sen. Levesque (Portsmouth & Warren) $14,600 - 10 grants
Sen. Gibbs 12th dist. (Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, & Tiverton), $8000 - 4 grants.