From the 36...
My perspectives on the issues impacting Rhode Island and District 36
Welcome to From the 36. It’s a place where I share what’s happening in and around our corner of Rhode Island, from Narragansett to North Kingstown to Block Island.
Sometimes it’s policy, sometimes it’s personal, but it’s always about the people and issues that shape our community.
Check in often to see what’s on my mind, what’s going on in District 36, and how together we can keep turning the tide in the right direction.
The Hidden Cost of Rhode Island’s Energy Transition
The hidden cost of Rhode Island’s energy transition may not show up in headlines, but it could appear in higher housing costs, utility bills, and fewer affordable options for working families.
Senate Resolution S2354 could make energy transitions more expensive for the very Rhode Islanders already struggling with rising costs.
When Affordable Housing Meets Climate Goals
As Rhode Island pushes toward climate goals, the ripple effects are showing up in an unexpected place: housing costs.
New EV-related safety requirements are increasing construction costs, even for families unlikely to benefit from them today.
Employment Numbers Are Moving in the Wrong Direction
Rhode Island lost 1,000 jobs in February.
Unemployment ticked up to 4.6%, and over the past year, there are fewer Rhode Islanders working today than there were a year ago.
These aren’t isolated data points. They’re signals.
A Plan to Help Small Businesses… That Doesn’t
A new proposal aims to help small businesses by encouraging local investment.
It sounds like a win, but a closer look reveals a program that may be too narrow, too complex, and too limited to make a real impact.
The rules, restrictions, and real-world costs raise a bigger question: who does this actually help?
Something Still Smells in Quonset
Elected officials are lining up to oppose the sludge plant in Quonset, but where’s the alternative?
If we’re serious about solving the problem, we can’t stop at “no.”
We need to ask the harder question: what’s the plan?
Who’s Checking the Bill?
Before you pay a restaurant bill, you take a look to make sure everything adds up.
Similarly, Rhode Island spends billions each year on healthcare and social services.
When it comes to billions in taxpayer dollars, we need to ask: Who’s checking the bill?
What Real Housewives Gets Right About Rhode Island
Reality TV shows one version of Rhode Island. Most people are living another.
That gap between perception and reality is real, and it’s getting wider.
For many people, it’s getting harder to live and work here every day.
Are We Building a Car Factory Because We Need a New Car?
Rhode Island is exploring a new medical school at URI to help address the state’s doctor shortage.
It’s an exciting long-term idea, but how do we balance that vision with the healthcare access challenges Rhode Islanders are facing today?
When Did “Normal” Become the Exception?
A quick comment at the gym stopped me in my tracks: “You come across as normal.”
When did being normal become unusual in politics?
Maybe Rhode Island needs less political theater and more common sense.
Rhode Island Wants to Pay Workers to Stay… So Why Are They Leaving?
A new proposal would help certain workers repay student loans if they stay in high-need professions.
While well-intentioned, programs like this may address the symptoms of Rhode Island’s workforce shortage rather than the underlying causes driving young professionals to leave the state.
Let’s not only look at what this policy is meant to do, let’s also look at what it doesn’t do.
“an education in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Inventor & Statesman