A year ago, no one could have imagined that the Barrington School Committee would quickly become the model for openness in government. For much of the past five years, that board was mired in … more

In the early days of America, residents in small New England communities would gather for “town meetings” to make spending, infrastructure or investment decisions, as a community. Those … more

Rhode Island needs to pass a law regulating electric bicycles and their use on bike paths. A bill before the General Assembly would do that, but the current version is flawed and potentially … more

The Town of Barrington can put all the consternation about the future of the Carmelite Monastery property behind it and making a lasting positive impact on this community. By converting the Watson … more

The Town of Barrington has no obligation, legal or otherwise, to develop senior or affordable housing on the former Carmelite Monastery property on Watson Avenue in the Nayatt neighborhood. It is … more

An array of bills before the Rhode Island General Assembly would chip away at both newspapers and transparency in government. They seek to alter numerous state laws that require governments, both … more

Why is the Town of Barrington working so ambitiously to develop the former Carmelite Monastery property ? There are many facets to the proposals currently under consideration — density, … more

It fails the eyeball test. One look at the development plans proposed for the former Carmelite monastery property tells you plenty — too many houses on not enough land.   The … more

A package of 14 housing bill may be a boon to private developers, but without further legislative action it is unlikely to result in helping those most in need of housing in the state. more

Setting aside journalists and citizen watchdogs, most people don’t care about public records laws — until they do care. When they find themselves in a land dispute with a neighbor, preparing a legal defense for their son’s disputed arrest, or questioning why a school district is building a new school instead of renovating an old one, they will care a lot about public records laws. more