Marc Comtois

Hull Selling RIF to Shadowy Board of Directors!

By Marc Comtois | June 22, 2010 |

Brian Hull (h/t Ian Donnis), current proprietor of RI Future is putting the old girl up on the block again. This will be the 3rd ownership change for our erstwhile Progessive counterparts in as many years. Hull has been accepted into the Masters in Public Policy degree program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and…

Highlander School Gets 3 Year Extension

By Marc Comtois | June 22, 2010 |

As reported by ProJo The public outcry over the fate of popular Highlander Charter School registered with state education officials, who Tuesday reversed an earlier recommendation to close the school next year unless it showed dramatic improvement and instead granted the school a three-year extension. Highlander supporters said after the meeting that they were relieved…

Where Rhode Islanders Are Going

By Marc Comtois | June 18, 2010 |

Forbes has an interactive map where you can look at where the people are moving. I found it via Ryan Streeter’s post concerning the difference in migration between California in Texas (Texas is gaining, Cali ain’t). Consider Rhode Island more a Cali than a Tay-has. Here’s Providence County, for instance: Kent, Washington (er…”South”) and Newport…

Is it any wonder why, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” is so appealing?

By Marc Comtois | June 16, 2010 |

To paraphrase, “Government acres is the place to be, government jobs are the life you see…”: Under the Obama administration, the government is doing such a good job that it’s decided to reward itself. Last year, Uncle Sam paid out $408 million in bonuses to 1.3 million federal workers…That $408 million figure only counts bonuses…

In NY Town, Vote Early and Vote Often (Legally)

By Marc Comtois | June 16, 2010 |

Apparently, this is the new definition of “fair voting”: Voters in Port Chester, 25 miles northeast of New York City, are electing village trustees for the first time since the federal government alleged in 2006 that the existing election system was unfair. The election ends Tuesday and results are expected late Tuesday. Although the village…

Warwick Dips into Reserves, Cuts School Budget

By Marc Comtois | June 15, 2010 |

The Warwick City Council approved a $267 million budget and avoided raising car taxes (as proposed by Mayor Avedisian) by dipping into reserves to the tune of $2.7 million to offset city-side cuts. They also basically agreed with Mayor Avedisian’s budget proposal and funded schools at 95% of last year ($117.7 million), which was $9…

Tonight’s the Night in Warwick

By Marc Comtois | June 14, 2010 |

As the ProJo 7to7 reports: Increased car taxes and deep cuts to the school systems are two likely options Monday night as the City Council has to come up with a budget for fiscal 2011 that is not only balanced but fills a roughly $14 million hole caused by slashed state aid. Council members put…

Another night in Warwick

By Marc Comtois | June 11, 2010 |

The City Council met with the Warwick School Department and School Committee, represented by School Committee Chair Chris Friel and Superintendent Dr. Peter Horoschak, respectively. They explained to the City Council that for the past two years they had been flat-funded from the City at $123 million and were requesting approximately $126 million this year.…

Warwick Schools: They Know Where to Cut, but Will it Get Done?

By Marc Comtois | June 10, 2010 |

Warwick Superintendent Dr. Peter Horoschak knows where to go to make budget cuts that would save sports and other activities: Superintendent Peter Horoschak calculates that even with the mayor’s plan to save sports and extra curricular activities, the schools still face a $6.1 million budget deficit. In his opinion, the best place to start plugging…

Warwick Tea Party Budget Analysis

By Marc Comtois | June 9, 2010 |

At the Warwick School Committee meeting last night–in a virtual repeat of Monday night’s City Council meeting–residents and students voiced their dismay over the idea of cutting school activities, including sports, to make up looming budget deficits. Perhaps the most insightful, eloquent and forceful defense of sports was given by former Pilgrim standout and Syracuse…