RI Political Corruption

A man picks a path in the woods

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Progressives Press the Dems’ Decision

By Justin Katz | September 27, 2021 |

John and Justin pick out some of the lessons of Rhode Island’s political turmoil.

A water drop and ripples

The bright Amazon cloud in Johnston does have a dark shadow.

By Justin Katz | September 20, 2021 |

It would be difficult to argue against welcoming an Amazon distribution center in Johnston.  That’s a lot of money that will flow into Rhode Island and one of its municipalities. There’s even an important and encouraging observation to be made about the fact that it will be in Johnston, with its conservative-Democrat mayor, Joe Polisena. …

Ivan Vladimirov's Night Robbery of Humanitarian Aid

Here’s what you do if you’re angry at Anthony Silva’s $53,000 parting gift.

By Justin Katz | September 15, 2021 |

Departing Democrat Governor Dan McKee’s administration under the cloud of an influence peddling scandal, former Chief of Staff Anthony Silva is taking with him a $53,000 payout for unused time off, according to Eli Sherman on WPRI.  This benefit is always an issue when government employees leave office for some controversial reason, and the public is…

Sign reading "You'll Get It Eventually"

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Open Questions About Mysterious Decisions

By Justin Katz | September 13, 2021 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz talk about inexplicable decisions being made in Rhode Island government and media.

A water drop and ripples

McKee jumped out of the municipal frying pan and into the 38 Studios fire.

By Justin Katz | September 7, 2021 |

This blows my mind.  As his former chief of staff, Anthony Silva falls issues a series of retirements, resignations, and property donations in an effort to put an influence-peddling scandal behind himself, Democrat Governor Dan McKee goes and fills his position with somebody who carries the stain of the 38 Studios scandal: On Tuesday, McKee…

A man falls down stairs

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Stumbles in the State House and the Teacher Union Hall

By Justin Katz | August 30, 2021 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz talk about high-profile slip-ups by politicians and political actors.

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.

A Local Focus on Apathy and Fear

By Justin Katz | April 13, 2013 |

My essay on apathy and fear in Rhode Island is in today’s Providence Journal. From the version that Anchor Rising readers may have already read on the American Spectator’s site, I’ve changed the focus a bit and added some key anecdotes with a much more local focus. To expand even more on the anecdote about…

RIOpenGov Strives to Fill Transparency Void

By Justin Katz | April 2, 2013 |

The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity has posted state payroll information to its transparency Web site, RIOpenGov.org. The site lists all state employees by name, department, and division, and presents their pay, including overtime, for the years 2010 and 2011. The Ocean State Current drew some attention to this data last week, with reports…

Things We Read Today (43), Tuesday

By Justin Katz | December 18, 2012 |

Explaining Rhode Island’s decline in four brief sections: legal process, the economy, the media, and fashionable graft. Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…