Voters Are Realizing that Trump Doesn’t Care About Them

He has his own priorities

Mark Schauer for Common Dreams

This month, the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law—without Donald Trump’s signature, exactly as he’d threatened. It’s a small, recent example of a much bigger habit: Trump keeps showing voters exactly how little he thinks of them. 

The bill wasn’t controversial at all. It was negotiated by both parties’ top committee members and aimed squarely at lowering housing costs. 

But Trump let it sit for weeks rather than sign it, hoping to extract an unrelated voter-suppression bill in return.

At this point, childish behavior from the president shouldn’t be surprising.

In his first inaugural address, Trump claimed to be the champion of America’s “forgotten men and women.” But it was a lie from the start. He never cared about the poor and marginalized. 

He cared about cutting taxes for his friends; scapegoating immigrants for the struggles of the working class; and restoring a mythical era of American “greatness” characterized by the supremacy of straight, white, Christian males.

Although his lie was obvious, it was also effective. In 2016, Trump won around one-eighth of voters who’d supported Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Democratic primaries. In 2024, he significantly increased his share of the Black and Hispanic vote. 

Rhode Islanders need to earn $33.95/Hour to afford housing

And that's if you can find it

Steve Ahlquist

A full-time worker in Rhode Island must earn $33.95 per hour — or $70,617 annually — to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment at today’s Fair Market Rent (FMR), up from $31.71 per hour in 2025. This is Rhode Island’s “2026 Housing Wage” according to Out of Reach, a report published jointly by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Housing Network of Rhode Island.

From a press release

Released annually, Out of Reach underscores the significant disparity that exists between actual wages and the wages people need to earn to afford their rents nationwide, reflecting the broader trend of rising income inequality across the U.S. The report’s “Housing Wage” is an estimate of the hourly wage full-time workers must earn to afford a rental home at FMR without spending more than 30% of their incomes.

In Rhode Island, the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,765. To afford this level of rent and utilities without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $5,885 monthly or $70,617 annually.

This level of income translates into an hourly Housing Wage of $33.95. The average Rhode Island renter earns only $19.24 per hour. Minimum wage is just $16 an hour.

We're back in court against Trump, this time over housing for the homeless

Attorney General Neronha sues Trump Administration for upending long-term housing support for homeless Americans

The long-term solution for homelessness is housing

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit against the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for unlawfully attempting to cap funding for permanent housing projects. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, argues that the move would result in tens of thousands of people losing their homes.

[From a Rhode Island Attorney General press release]

“The Trump Administration consistently and constantly targets our most vulnerable Americans, and this case is no different,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Those experiencing homelessness are in dire need of support, and these unlawful conditions on funding for permanent housing will cause tens of thousands of people to lose their homes. While this Administration will almost certainly continue trying to make life harder for Rhode Islanders and Americans everywhere, we will continue to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.”

Just last month, a coalition of states won a separate case against HUD in federal court in Rhode Island regarding the agency’s decision last year to impose illegal conditions on billions of dollars in funding for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which supports housing and other services for people experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Congress has prioritized stability in how funds are allocated, and the vast majority of CoC funds have traditionally supported permanent housing and similarly successful projects.

Three affordable single-family homes in So. Kingstown, through So. County Habitat

 

South County Habitat for Humanity will be accepting applications for three single family homes in South Kingstown from July 1st through the 31st. About the Homes: Energy efficient, newly constructed homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a garage. Located in the Broad Rock area of South Kingstown, close to downtown. They offer a pathway to low-to-moderate income homeownership. Information Session: July 8th - 6PM In person and virtual We will be hosting an information session to present information about the homeownership program and application process. Refreshments will be provided. *Attendance is not required to apply. Please call 401-213-6711 X305 or email Aliyya@southcountyhabitat.org to register. Applications will be available at southcountyhabitat.org/homeownership starting July 1st.

This week's Tea with Tina to focus on housing

NEWS FROM THE RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR TINA SPEARS

JULY 2026

Let's Talk Housing at the next Tea with Tina

Our next Tea with Tina will be Saturday, July 11th @ Caf Bar in Charlestown 5153 Old Post Road 10 AM–12 NOON   Join the conversation on housing with Tina Spears and guests Deb Carney and Collin Penney

FRIENDS,   In our community, every voice is welcome. Whether your priority is affordable housing, protecting our rural character and environment, or finding the right balance, your perspective matters.    Housing is one of the most important issues facing our community, with thoughtful perspectives on all sides.   The future of our towns should be shaped by those who live in it. Let's come together, learn more, and build a path forward.   Following our discussion, there'll be a short Q&A to give us an idea of solutions we hope to explore with your input:  What makes our area special, and what should we protect for future generations? What are your biggest concerns about development here? What housing challenges do you believe our neighbors face today or will face in the future? What principles should guide housing decisions moving forward?   We hope you'll join us. Together, we can shape our community's future. If you are unable to come, you can email your thoughts on these questions to tina@tinaspearsri.com

Have you seen our new yard signs? Contact Tina at tina@tinaspearsri.com or call Kathleen 401 439 4469 to get yours!

If you'd like to donate to Tina's re-eelction campaign, please make personal checks payable to: The Friends of Tina Spears 82 Hillside Drive Charlestown, RI 02813   Or click HERE to contribute online or scan the QR code

Want to volunteer on Tina's re-election campaign? Contact us here. We have lots of fun and we'll keep Tina in the State House!

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State law prohibits the acceptance of any corporate or business checks. Only individuals and RI registered PACs may contribute. RI law requires contributors to note place of employment. Contributions are limited to $2,000 per person per calendar year, and are not tax-deductible.

Trump refuses to sign bipartisan affordable housing bill

Assembly approves Victoria Gu legislation to expand online database of affordable housing

First step in getting a place to live is finding one

The General Assembly voted today to approve legislation sponsored by Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Thomas E. Noret to expand the searchable online database of low- and moderate-income housing to better serve Rhode Islanders searching for a home.

“A few years ago, the General Assembly tasked RIHousing with creating and maintaining a searchable online database of low-income housing developments to inform the public of low-income housing opportunities,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). 

“But that law only narrowly applied to the limited number of rental units funded by RIHousing, leaving large gaps that made it difficult for Rhode Islanders searching for affordable housing to find an available unit. This bill expands that database to all low- and moderate-income housing units — including homeownership units — to create a comprehensive one-stop location for Rhode Islanders searching for housing.”

The legislation (2026-S 2690, 2026-H 7778) expands the database to include all residential developments that meet the definition of low- or moderate-income housing, including homeownership units. Currently, the database is limited to rentals in specific low-income housing developments and subsidized housing developments.

Fourteen Rhode Island municipalities are planning to sue the state over laws designed to make it easier to build housing

Charlestown is NOT suing, at least for now

Steve Ahlquist

Charlestown Town Council gave its OK to converting
this derelict motel on Route 1 into affordable housing.
The ONLY dissenting vote was Charlestown Citizens Alliance
(CCA) rep Bonnita Van Slyke

Over the last three years or so, under the leadership of former Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation designed to make it easier for developers to build housing. 

Given the massive shortage of available housing, rapidly escalating rents that harm low- and middle-income families, and a more than 400% increase in homelessness across the state, these measures, though not sufficient, are a necessary stab at mitigating Rhode Island’s housing apocalypse.

The legislation, among other things, reformed the comprehensive permitting process to better enable affordable housing development and streamlined zoning and land-use regulations. These aren’t exactly the sexiest bills; we’re talking about things like density bonuses for building near transit, adding homes in commercial lots, or infilling non-conforming lots (think weird-shaped lots that require some creative designs).

The goal of these reforms is to reduce costs and accelerate the construction of new homes. Given that Rhode Island has long been last in the nation for building homes (on a per capita basis, not because of our size), and it is estimated that the state needs to build between 15,000 and 24,000 new units to get the situation under control, it is right to ask if the state is doing enough. That said, permitting for new housing is trending up, as shown in the 2025 Integrated Housing Report from the Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing, but at our current rate of development, we are over a decade from seeing the housing market stabilize.

As Rhode Island families suffer, you’d think that local municipalities would be all in on these reforms, but of course, that’s not the case. Instead, around 14 municipalities, including Portsmouth, Tiverton, Hopkinton, Burrillville, Bristol, Smithfield, West Greenwich, East Greenwich, Lincoln, Middletown, Charlestown, and Westerly, have signed onto a Joint Municipal Statement¹ opposing the state’s efforts. The statement appears to be the brainchild of Larry Fitzmorris, President of the conservative Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, and Mark Brady, former Narragansett Planning Board Chair.

EDITOR'S NOTE: When I saw that Steve listed Charlestown among the towns planning to sue, I asked Charlestown Council President if this was true. It's not. This is what Deb said:

"My concern is the one size fits all approach to solve the housing problem.  Charlestown relies on private wells and septic systems which makes our situation different from those cities and town with public water and sewer.  Charlestown did not vote to join the lawsuit at this time. Based on the information presented at the May Town Council meeting,  it does not seem as though this lawsuit has a likely chance of success.  The Town Council will revisit the matter once new information is available."

- Will Collette