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

The train is starting to roll toward a decisive CD1 Primary

STORY OF THE WEEK: If the election to succeed David Cicilline in the 1 st Congressional District was held last Friday, the favorites were Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and state Sen. Sandra Cano … more

By Ian Donnis | 3/27/23

Letter: What of solicitor conflicts and hidden costs?

The following letter was sent to the Little Compton Town Council, following the recent appointment of Anthony DeSisto as the town's new solicitor. DeSisto also serves as council for the state Coastal … more

4/17/23

Editorial: Too many candidates chose not to debate

A frustrating new trend emerged this election season, as a disturbing number of candidates declined, refused or were unavailable to take part in public campaign forums with their opponents. … more

11/3/22

Letter: Legislature should abandon school funding formula

To the editor: The burden for Rhode Island education is not fairly distributed among its citizens. The state’s funding formula unfairly distributes citizens’ money; disrespects … more

2/27/23

Letter: Legislative process needs to be changed

As citizens we don’t get to vote for the leadership or the statehouse rules; our representatives do that. Therefore, we should also press our representatives to place democracy above party and reform the rules of the legislature. more

1/4/24

Letter: Discussion on virus is overlooking the public interest

To the editor: John Adams was one of the foremost of the American patriots wanting to break from England. However, to his great credit, when the British soldiers in the “Boston … more

4/8/21

Letter: Please support bill to ban sale of new fur products

To the editor: Rhode Island legislators are currently voting on H.5258, a bill to ban the sale of new fur products in Rhode Island. This bill is a step in the right direction toward eliminating … more

2/27/23

RIPEC sends a strong warning about state spending

STORY OF THE WEEK: It has been clear for a while that the sugar high of consecutive budget surpluses in Rhode Island – a rare occurrence in a state usually dogged by perennial deficits -- … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/6/23

Letter: Charles Auclair was a champion for veterans

At a recent Board of Directors meeting of the Veterans Association of Bristol County (VABC) the passing of Charles Auclair (October 5, 2023) was noted. Charles was a champion and friend of veterans … more

10/17/23

Letter: I took part in a candidates forum

To the editor: The letter from Jill Kassis and Christine Keyser in the Bristol Phoenix was misleading. I am a Republican candidate for Senate District 11 and I did participate in a forum sponsored by … more

11/3/22

Letter: Short-term lessons for a long-term project

We should not dismiss ferry service as a long-term public transportation option altogether. more

1/4/24

Letter: School district employee was libeled on Facebook page

To the editor: Defamation is defined as the act of making false statements about another in order to harm their reputation. When those statements are put into writing, they are known as libel. … more

10/5/23

Editorial: The things we learned from Big Bird

Caroll Spinney, the whole body puppeteer who brought Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life, died Sunday at age 85 in Connecticut. Big Bird, like most six-year-olds, would … more

12/13/19

Editorial: Death of the snow day

The pandemic introduced a few silver linings. Remote learning is sort of, kind of, one of them. Across America, schools figured out how to conduct themselves when no one was in the school … more

1/13/22

Letter: Who would steal such a joy?

I was saddened when I read that the "Fork in the Road" sculpture in Westport had been stolen and damaged. Why? It was always a pleasure to drive by and see what might be on it during the … more

8/4/22

Letter: Courage comes by making change, not slinging an AR-15

Special kudos to Republican senators! They have instilled courage into every student in America. You see, as astute people know, there is no courage without vulnerability. And because the GOP is so … more

6/10/22

Letter: Confused seasons along the Back 40

Well, whoever is in charge of the weather is certainly confused. All summer I never turned on my new AC, now that it is autumn I don’t know what I would do without it. Apple growers in … more

9/11/23

Letter: Keystone XL order is a green initiative in optics only

To the editor: Our new climate czar John Kerry was asked after an executive order cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline how the folks who lost 11,000 jobs could be helped. His answer was a … more

2/16/21

Letter: Fond memories of the little gem that is Little Compton

Just to the south of Little Compton, RI is the Atlantic Ocean and to the west the Sakonnet River. A place by the sea. Predominantly a small rural-farming community with an impressive ocean view. … more

6/10/22

Letter: Change in school grading policy is troubling

To the editor: My name is Kelly McKenney Golden, and I am a licensed mental health counselor and have been working in public schools for over 20 years. I have actively worked in schools as a … more

12/13/22

Letter: Support school bond to support entire Portsmouth community

To the editor: I am a Portsmouth resident and voter, and I have no school-age children. Here’s why I am enthusiastic about supporting the $21.44 million school facilities bond in the … more

10/18/21

Swift passage of abortion bill shows how Assembly has changed

STORY OF THE WEEK: For supporters like state Sen. Bridget Valverde and Rep. Katherine Kazarian, the legislative sponsors of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, passing the EACA was unfinished … more

By Ian Donnis | 5/23/23

Commentary: Questioning the Wisdom of Offshore Wind

On April 20, 2010, the oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, releasing millions of barrels of oil into pristine ocean waters. Desperate to contain the spill, the U.S. government … more

By Lisa Quattrocki Knight, Bill Thompson and David Osborn | 1/25/23

Letter: O'Dell missed the mark on housing cost letter

This letter is in response to Ms. O’Dell’s Letter last week regarding affordable housing here in Little Compton. I was truly jaw dropped by reading her editorial. I had no idea that … more

3/28/23

This country has no plan for renewable energy (or anything else)

Governor Dan McKee signed into law legislation to increase renewable energy production and supply by requiring that 100 percent of Rhode Island’s electricity be offset by renewable production … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 5/23/23