Infrastructure

A horde of cult members worships the RI State House as the city burns

Politics This Week: RI’s Unshakable Faith in Government

By Justin Katz | December 17, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review the growing list of reasons RI should question giving government more authority.

Truck Tolls or Any Tolls – Ever More Revenue Still Ain’t the Fix

By Monique Chartier | December 15, 2024 |

They’re ba-a-a-a-a-ack. Well, strong possibility. Truck-only tolls, that is. To clarify, Rhode Island’s only-in-the-nation, truck-only toll law is not just discriminatory – it applies only to a certain type of vehicle, trucks – but it is actually doubly discriminatory – it applies only to CERTAIN trucks (Class 8 and above). But the federal appeals court…

A bridge collapses due to policy failures and quick fixes

Politics This Week: Living in the Debacle State

By Justin Katz | December 11, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the government and political lunacy of Rhode Island, these days.

The Schrodinger Legality of RIDOT Paying a Losing Bidder

By Monique Chartier | December 8, 2024 |

This is not the biggest question pertaining to Rhode Island’s handling of the failed Washington Bridge – it is secondary, for example, to WHY the state had to offer a serious incentive for what would seem to be a juicy public contract, not to mention what Ken Block is in the process of turning up…

Jeopardy in a nightmare

Politics This Week: RI in Jeopardy

By Justin Katz | November 26, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz address the question insiders don’t seem to ask.

A boy makes faces at a group of happy children

Politics This Week: He Knows They Are, but What Is He?

By Justin Katz | November 19, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz evaluate the landscape for Democrat RI.

A water drop and ripples

We’re being governed by a deliberately toxic and wasteful bureaucracy.

By Justin Katz | November 4, 2024 |

I’ve fallen way behind, so this tweet from Ken Block is a couple months old, but its content is (unfortunately) timeless in Rhode Island: The picture being painted for me by over ten current and former DOT employees is a toxically managed organization where who you know is far more important than how you do…

Hasbro's haunted headquarters

Politics This Week: Where Rhode Island Used to Be

By Justin Katz | October 30, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review signs of things going wrong in the Ocean State.

Villains sitting on a platform with the ladder up sawed off.

Politics This Week: Nothing a Little Genuine Competition Couldn’t Fix

By Justin Katz | October 21, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz follow local stories’ thread of RI’s obvious need for political competition.

A heavy man races casually without competition

Politics This Week: Corruption Without Competition

By Justin Katz | October 15, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss ways in which corruption thrives without competitive elections.