Opinion | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Severe weather creates an array of problems for municipal leaders

STORY OF THE WEEK: If you were driving around North Providence, parts of Providence or other local communities during torrential downpours early last week, you may have felt like an extra in … more

By Ian Donnis | 9/19/23

Letter: Judge erred in truck toll decision

To the editor: Federal Judge Smith of Rhode Island made a decision that truck tolls, not applicable to automobiles, is unconstitutional by the Commerce Clause of the federal constitution. That … more

10/13/22

Commentary: No measurable influence on climate change

Officially, offshore wind developers anticipate their projects will “have no measurable influence on climate change.” Knowing this, they offer a different rationale. In the “purpose … more

By Lisa Quattrocki Knight, M.D., Ph.D. and Bill Thompson | 2/15/23

Letter: Preventing criminal gun use requires facts, not fiction

To the editor: Every reasonable person favors preventing the criminal use of guns. But we are not going to make progress on that until the gun control lobby ends its campaign of misinformation … more

5/19/23

Commentary: Let’s listen and speak to each other instead of being against our neighbors

The Harvest Moon holds appeal for people from a global range of cultures. We celebrate here at Thanksgiving and like to think we are thanking the indigenous tribes for helping us to prepare the local … more

By Mike Fink | 10/13/22

Editorial: A bad bill for any shoreline

The Sakonnet area’s legislative delegation should hit the brakes on bills that would severely restrict oyster farms along the Sakonnet River. With the legislative session expected to adjourn … more

6/22/22

Commentary: Put your cell phone away for a minute...enjoy the beauty of nature in the fall

Look up from your cell phone. Please. The sky is on fire. Don’t miss it. Foliage is transitioning to flame and to tangerine and to ochre. These colors, hidden in summer, are becoming visible as … more

By Betsy Shea-Taylor | 10/13/22

Letter: Be factual, not emotional, about wind energy

To the editor: Our gang of wind turbine protestors claim that wind turbines are killing sea creatures (“A rally cry against offshore wind,” The Portsmouth Times, May 18). Let’s … more

5/19/23

Letter: A room with a view at the Back 40

Before my house was built I wandered around the neighborhood and met a couple who had just moved into their new house. I asked them what they wished they had done differently, if anything. Their … more

10/16/23

Letter: Dredging the Sakonnet River is a mistake

Dredging in the Sakonnet should be prevented and the attendant difficulties in bringing ashore the power cables returned to Massachusetts where they belong. more

3/28/24

Editorial: The virus masks the best education possible

A few weeks ago we shared our opinions about mandatory masking in schools. Based on some reactions , you might think we advocated for citizen revolt against both the government and the medical … more

8/26/21

Talking Politics: Gov. McKee's budget comes at a great time for candidate McKee

STORY OF THE WEEK: With the September 13 primary fast approaching, RI Gov. Dan McKee last week unveiled a spending plan that doubles as a way to appeal to a wide swath of Rhode Islanders. Big spend … more

By Ian Donnis | 1/26/22

Troubled Philly trip continues to make waves for McKee

STORY OF THE WEEK: The troubled March trip to Philadelphia by two Rhode Island officials continues to make waves. Following revelations, via ProJo, about a January lunch at the Capital Grill that … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/27/23

What has become of us?

June was pockmarked by events which suggest to me that ethics as a guiding force is in full decline. Locally, we had the pathetic saga of two administrators of Gov. Dan McKee engaging in unchecked … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/27/23

Be very careful with Officers’ Bill of Rights

Another legislative session in Rhode Island has come and gone without any action on a perennial issue, reform of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights. To be sure, some Constables on Patrol (COPS) have … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 8/1/23

Letter: Hope alights, along with the sparrows, downys and others

Although we have had enough rain to call this month the Deluge Month, I am calling it the Hopeful Month. Already the peepers have trilled from their marshy, hatching places, Red-Winged blackbirds are … more

3/11/24

Letter: Community center is a gem, and so was Fall Fest

Kudos and many thanks to everyone who pitched in to make the Little Compton Community Center Fall Fest dinners such a humongous success this past Saturday night. First of all Diane MacGregor, … more

10/25/23

Letter: Offshore wind critics and their disinformation campaign

To the editor: The recent rally and other calls to ban the SouthCoast Wind offshore wind farm has produced a remarkable number of complete misconceptions, misinformation and disinformation. I … more

5/19/23

Letter: Defend your neighbors, fight aquaculture proposal

To the editor: Once again, I find myself writing in defense of my Tiverton neighbors, various other local and statewide stakeholders, and the underserved communities impacted by the pending … more

6/22/22

Editorial: Good riddance to outdated toll system

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority’s move to fully automated toll collection this week is welcome and long overdue. Starting Feb. 14, the bridge authority will launch a … more

2/12/21

Editorial: In this case, 'easier to find' is less likely to be found

Legislation before the Rhode Island General Assembly would take a swipe at both newspapers and transparency in government — two things that are intrinsically linked. House Bill 6375 and Senate … more

6/10/21

Letter: Washington Bridge fiasco has me wondering...what next?

Budget money has constantly been allocated to everything else, from digital security labs to soccer stadiums. Meanwhile critical infrastructure, like the 195 bridge, was shoddily inspected and shoddily repaired. Here is the result. more

1/25/24

Letter: State must protect residents from Covid housing loss

To the editor: We the Democratic Town Committee of Little Compton, Rhode Island, call upon our General Assembly, our Governor, and the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission to act to … more

1/18/21

Poli-ticks: Gosh, I miss the America I grew up with

Normally, this is the column where I have the audacity to suggest New Year resolutions for resident politicians. Instead I have a more urgent resolution for all of us: I want us Americans to go back … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 1/7/22

Letter: Urge your government to allow critical gun safety votes

To the editor: There are currently two pieces of legislation critical to our public safety which are making their way through our Rhode Island legislature. They would: 1) Ban of future sales of … more

4/27/23