Monique Chartier
A fascinating and eye-opening article by Mike Stanton in yesterday’s Providence Journal describes how, to paraphrase Stanton, the state jumped into the game business. We learn, for example, that the decision to provide 38 Studios with a $75 million loan guarantee from the taxpayers of the state was definitely a joint one reached by then-Governor…
Without losing sight of the 38 Studios situation, other matters around the state continue to move inexorably forward and, therefore, command our attention. Not the least of these is developments regarding the city for which, ominously, a budget commission has already been assembled, though not sent in. So, in order to stave off that budget…
… though not because the Schilling deal, facilitated by the Economic Development Corp, might leave taxpayers on the hook for upwards of $100 million. By almost any measure, Rhode Island has a very poor business climate. High taxes, too many fees, too many regulations, many of which were intended to protect consumers but, in reality,…
John Depetro alluded to it earlier today. But it looks like WJAR/NBC10/Turn to 10’s Bill Rappleye got what can only be viewed as a confirming quote from Governor Chafee. State officials have been meeting with the video game company owned by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, Gov. Lincoln Chafee told NBC 10 on…
PolitiFact decided to rate the statement by RIILE’s Terry Gorman that When these [undocumented] students graduate from college, they’re still illegal aliens. They cannot get a job. They rate it a “True”. As they gave such a rating to someone with whom I agree on the underlying issue, I’m sorry to complain, really, I am.…
The news has now broken that not only is the West Warwick pension system in deep trouble but that it may well drag the entire city over the receivership cliff. This would be a good point, accordingly, to post the e-mail exchange between myself and the WW Pension Board of six months ago. (My questions…
WPRI’s Matt Smith reports that at a special meeting held this evening, town leaders said if West Warwick continues on the same path as they are currently on, there will be no assets in the pension fund by 2017. Officials also said they believe the town is on the same track as the bankrupt City…
So as you probably heard, Congressman David Cicilline’s brother, John, made the news yesterday. Which reminds me. When is either John Cicilline or David Cicilline going to pay Providence back that $75,000 – or is it $150,000 (two checks @ $75,000)? Is there any question that this highly questionable maneuver would never have taken place…
… yes, even the self-described “stickler about church and state separation”, Jim Baron, says it’s a war memorial. But the war memorial at Place Jolicoeur is different — materially, qualitatively and significantly different. It is different because it is not a religious symbol at all. Cross or no cross, it is not a religious symbol,…
Last night, the Providence City Council voted to approve substantive, though compared to the shortfall, modest, pension reform. At the meeting, an irate firefighter demanded to know Can you tell us what the rush is? Today, Standard & Poor’s supplied the answer. S&P lowered Providence’s credit rating to BBB, two steps from junk-bond status, from…