Public Safety

Racial conflict fist as a green light

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Municipal and School Officials Build Toward Race War

By Justin Katz | July 20, 2021 |

Critical race theory is all the rage, and John DePetro and Justin Katz worry about RI government efforts to stoke it into conflict.

Image of Police Line tape.

Identity politics is a distraction from uncomfortable reality.

By Justin Katz | April 19, 2021 |

The Providence Journal’s headline on a Katherine Gregg story draws attention to an important point about what is hidden: “RI lawmakers ask: Should police face stricter discipline?”  Put simply, the bright spotlight on race makes conspicuous what the politicians, unions, and activists are trying to keep off to the side, in the dark. International Brotherhood of Police…

Monkey hear no, see no, speak no evil statues

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Many Ways to Ignore Core Problems

By Justin Katz | April 19, 2021 |

For their weekly conversation, John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss Governor Daniel McKee avoiding the underlying problems at Zambarano, the media ignoring the underlying violence of BLM rallies, Providence ignoring the underlying issues with public safety, and the implications of fundraising results from Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline.

WPRI chart of mental health calls in Providence

Prevention isn’t in RI (government)’s interest.

By Justin Katz | April 19, 2021 |

Along the defund-the-police line, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza recently released the results of a Walmart-family-funded study concluding that a “prevention-first approach” to public safety would “create a healthier, safer, and more just Providence,” but residents might wonder what “prevention-first” really means. Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré has lauded Eugene, Oregon’s CAHOOTS program, which stands for…