Unions

A giant mime shushes an empty legislative chamber

Politics This Week: RI’s Code of Silence

By Justin Katz | March 11, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz explore various subjects about which journalists aren’t free to be clear.

A water drop and ripples

Education will not improve in RI as long as these folks are setting the agenda.

By Justin Katz | February 27, 2024 |

This is all about ideology and politics, not about truly educating Rhode Island students: Most Rhode Islanders don’t have any idea who these people are, and many of those who do want to avoid the danger and cognitive dissonance of believing they have ulterior motives.  Nonetheless, as long as they have prominent roles in public…

Shortsighted inspectors of disaster

Politics This Week: An Establishment Without Clarity

By Justin Katz | February 26, 2024 |

On WNRI 1380 AM/95.1 FM, John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss: Political establishment deteriorating with the Washington Bridge Safety falling through the gaps of immigration euphemism Media punts on journalism when it comes to people they hate Tidewater beneficiaries “Quiet campaigns”   Featured image by Justin Katz using Dall-E 3 and Photoshop AI.

A water drop and ripples

The union push is a bad sign for ABC6.

By Justin Katz | February 23, 2024 |

Entirely apart from ideological battles, the push at the ABC6 news operation in Rhode Island is a bad sign for the station: Over a quarter century of living in Rhode Island, I’ve seen no movement from ABC6 toward a greater competitive position against WJAR (10) and WPRI (12).  The perennial third-place laggard from a struggling…

A man in a suit holds a soccer ball decorated with dollar signs

Elaborate government investment fraud creates incentive for election fraud.

By Justin Katz | February 21, 2024 |

The latest shiny news object in Rhode Island media is the revelation that the Tidewater soccer stadium will cost Rhode Island taxpayers $132 million in order to finance $27 million of the construction costs, or $4.4 million per year for 30 years.  Grumbling is being heard from people with familiar names — “obviously these are…

Rising tide floods a city

Politics This Week: High Tide for Special Interests

By Justin Katz | February 19, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss unions, immigration, infrastructure, borrowing, and other ways special interests profit from government.

A water drop and ripples

The problem is teachers’ contempt for their role.

By Justin Katz | February 14, 2024 |

The quotation John pulls from the article is worth highlighting: The disregard of the law is only an incremental worsening of the problem.  Teachers’ going on strike (especially for crass considerations like even higher pay and benefits) has always seemed shocking to me and one of the reasons their unionization seems wholly inappropriate.  If they…

Government insiders play in a snowfall of cash

Politics This Week: Snowfall of Favors

By Justin Katz | February 14, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz trace the disconnect between what Rhode Island needs and what its politicians keep supplying.

A road inspector sleeps on his car

In Rhode Island, government is a natural disaster.

By Justin Katz | February 7, 2024 |

Yes, yes, words get thrown around in state-level politics, but there’s an important lesson in East Providence City Council President Bob Rodericks’s letter asking Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee to declare a state of emergency over the closure of the Washington Bridge between East Providence and Providence: … East Providence is impacted more than any…

Children dance near a burning RI State House

Politics This Week: RI Bridges Falling Down

By Justin Katz | January 29, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz wonder whether Rhode Island can withstand deterioration with its current leadership.