Providence

Pickpocketing in Oliver Twist

Providence’s pension obligation bond shows how civics know-how can be worse than useless to an ignorant population.

By Justin Katz | June 9, 2022 |

A handful of very active people who don’t understand how a policy works can do a great deal of damage, which is an outcome we should be discouraging rather than encouraging.

A water drop and ripples

Psst! Progressives in Providence don’t trust Wall Street or the mechanics of investment to help with their pension problem.

By Justin Katz | June 7, 2022 |

They just know that imposing a bond is a more-sure way of saddling taxpayers with the payoff to their labor union allies.  (Actually, most don’t know much on either front.  They just go along because they’ve bought into the baseline propaganda that progressives are always on the side of goodness.)

Firedancer in a ring of fire

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Setting RI on Fire (and not)

By Justin Katz | March 21, 2022 |

John and Justin discuss high-profile political races, threats to RI freedoms, and the possibility of arson.

Tiles with abuse words

The Providence teachers union goes full DARVO.

By Justin Katz | March 15, 2022 |

The amazing thing about Sarah Doiron’s report on the staged protest of the state Department of Education by teachers union members  is that it doesn’t say why the state took control of their schools.  The audacity is nothing short of shocking: More than 100 teachers marched the streets of Providence Monday afternoon to demand the state…

A water drop and ripples

The Superman building is going to prove that corruption is a waiting game.

By Justin Katz | February 4, 2022 |

Often, public corruption is simply a matter of special interests waiting out public attention.  Voters don’t want to subsidize a non-viable bit of real estate in Providence?  Just wait them out.  They’ll forget or some money will come along: It’s been nine years since Bank of America moved out of the 26-story skyscraper known as…

A girl peaks out from under bedcovers

Politics This Week with John DePetro: The Woke and the Awakening

By Justin Katz | January 10, 2022 |

John and Justin talk about who is woke, awake, asleep, and awakening in Rhode Island politics.

A hooded man in shadows

Providence murder mysteries can be solved if you use the word, “gangs.”

By Justin Katz | December 13, 2021 |

Nobody should feel encouraged by statements from Democrat Mayor Jorge Elorza or the other Democrats who run the city after another shooting in Providence on Saturday night.  Elorza may claim to “understand that our community needs and deserves to feel safe,” but that isn’t possible when authorities refuse to be clear about what’s going on.…

Whiteboard harassment of Ramona Bessinger

How is the Rhode Island Foundation permitted to push racist policies in Providence schools?

By Justin Katz | December 11, 2021 |

Lean back a moment and clear your eyes.  If you’re older than thirty, recall lessons you learned when you were young — that it is always wrong to discriminate against people based entirely on the color of their skin.  Now read this short paragraph: One of the [Providence school] district’s current incentives, which will continue…

Casual office planning meeting

Politics This Week with John DePetro: PR Bumbling All Around

By Justin Katz | November 30, 2021 |

John and Justin discuss local, state, and national stories with which the messaging is going all wrong.

A man with a bullet mask

Some keywords are strangely missing from news about increased shootings in Providence.

By Justin Katz | November 30, 2021 |

According to a chart published as part of WPRI’s report on the increase in victims of shootings in Providence, the city has regressed nearly to its 2015 level after steadily falling until 2020.  The number hit a low of 35 in 2019 and then more than doubled in 2020 and has increased from that point…