Charlestown news briefs

Town Dems and GOP re-organize….Coastal Ponds Commission meets Monday….Try CRAC – you’ll like it….Larisa’s workload….St. Andrews serves….Chariho kids shovel….Free at last, free at last
By Will Collette

Charlestown Democrats announce committee officers and roster for the 2013-14 term.

The new town Democratic team for the 2013-2014 term was announced by the CDTC. The CDTC has a full roster of 15 members. Cathy Collette and Tim Quillen remain Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively. Tom Ferrio moves to Treasurer and Suzanne Ferrio takes Tom’s former post as Secretary. Details here.

Tina Jackson takes over?

Charlestown Republicans hope to re-organize.

Failed candidate for state Representative Tina Jackson has apparently taken charge of re-organizing the moribund Charlestown Republican Town Committee. She has called a meeting for that purpose for Monday night, 7 PM at the Breachway Grill. Details here. 

There’s an interesting problem with this: under state law, all municipal party committees are required to reorganize every two years in January after each general election. Next Monday is February. But, hey, this
isn’t the first time that Tina Jackson has violated the law - or the most serious.

38 Studios - who knew and when did they know it?

Hard to Tell Who Knew of 38 Studios Deal

By Bob Plain in RIFuture.org

Rhode Island is hyperfocused on Curt Schilling. But unlike eight years ago when he heroically hurled us to a World Series victory, this time we have to rely on his business – not athletic – acumen. His video game company, 38 Studios, was given a taxpayer guaranteed $75 million loan to move from Massachusetts to the Ocean State. But already he’s missed a $1.125 payment to the state.

It seems as if both liberals and conservatives opposed the deal as it was being rushed through at the tail end of the Carcieri Administration. Colleen Conley, of local Tea Party fame, told me she opposed it and told the governor as much. And certainly Rhode Island progressives didn’t like the idea of providing such a giant corporate welfare check to just one company.

So who supported it, other than the former governor? It’s hard to tell.

Tale of two drivers

Two bad drivers, two radically different punishments

By Will Collette

Lyle Topa gets the driving "death sentence"

 Last week, two irresponsible, dangerous drivers faced a judge to receive their sentence in high-profile traffic cases after copping to charges.

One was 17-year-old Lyle Topa, Chariho student and driver of the car in the horrific crash in Carolina village that left him and fellow students terribly injured. The other was 59-year-old state Representative Bob Watson (R-E. Greenwich), who was busted for the second time in the past year with drugs in the front seat.

OMG PD: Wedded Fists, Rep. with a Rep, Man Unkind to Himself

Round-up of unusual and odd police reports from around Rhode Island

By Matthew Sanderson, South Kingstown Patch

State Rep. trumpets rep. 

State Rep. Bob Watson (R-East Greenwich) appeared in the news again last month for the wrong reasons. South Kingstown police arrested him for possession of marijuana. A plow driver called police when he saw an erratic driver “nearly” hit him, then pull up into a snowbank. The plow operator noted that Watson, when approached, smelled of alcohol. 

Police later reported that Watson had alcohol in the car, andwas even seen drinking an open Natural Ice beer can, when police arrived. At one point, Watson said, "Do you know who I am? I'm the E.G. rep." One officer noted Watson was “belligerent” and “uncooperative” back at the station. Watson was arrested in April 2011 in Connecticut and charged with DUI, pot possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Watson's Arraignment Continued; Treatment Whereabouts Unknown

Rep. Bob Watson did not appear in court for his drug possession charge on Thursday morning. 

By Erin Tiernan, South Kingstown Patch 

East Greenwich Rep. Robert Watson (R-Dist. 30) had his arraignment on marijuana possession charges continued to March 1 on Thursday morning in South Kingstown Fourth Division District Court.

He was not in court; his lawyer, Timothy Williamson, told Judge Mary McCaffrey his client was in treatment out of state for substance abuse.

Watson was arrested Saturday, Jan. 21, in South Kingstown after police caught him with a baggie of marijuana and a pipe in a parking lot on Tower Hill Road.

What about Bob?

Will Rep. Bob Watson’s 2nd Drug Arrest in 9 Months End His Political Career?   

By Brian Hull on www.rifuture.org

The Providence Journal (and everyone else) is reporting that Rep. Bob Watson was arrested again for possession of marijuana early Sunday morning.

When the police arrived, they saw a white Volvo sedan in the lot, with its rubber tire missing from the rim on the front driver’s side. The driver’s side door was open and a man who identified himself as Robert Watson was standing beside it, according to the police. There were no passengers in the car.

“The officers observed what appeared to be a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana on the driver’s side floor of the Volvo,” Buckley said. “The officers also discovered a clear sandwich bag containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the area of the driver’s seat.”

New information on Rep. Watson's drug arrest in South Kingstown

Connecticut reviewed Watson arrest to decide if he violated bail terms - decide not to add new charges



Watson's new mug shot

By Will Collette

LATE, LATE UPDATE: now the ProJo reports that Connecticut won't pile on and add new charges against Watson for violating the terms of his bail. For now.

LATE UPDATE: The Providence Journal reports that the Connecticut State's Attorney's Office is reviewing Watson arrest yesterday on drug charges. Watson is free on a $500 bond from his arrest last spring in East Haven, CT. This new arrest may violate the terms and conditions of his CT release. Connecticut authorities could increase his bond, order weekly drug tests or take other steps, according to Watson's attorney.

UPDATED: GoLocalProv reports that in addition to a bag of weed and a pipe, Watson also had an open beer. WJAR reports that Watson has checked himself into rehab.

WPRO reports that when police stopped Watson, he offered this articulate explanation:
“Do you know who I am? I’m the E.G. Rep....F*** You, whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever, F*** you....”and, as he was being arrested, " “Shut up. You got your guy!”

Several sources report that the state Republican leadership are standing by Watson and NOT calling for his resignation. Of course, after his arrest last year on drug charges in the Connecticut, the initial public reaction from his GOP colleagues was their full support. The next day, they kicked him to the curb, removing him as Minority Leader.

* * * *

The Providence Journal just reported that former Republican Minority Leader State Representative Robert Watson was arrested early this morning in South Kingstown. A snow plow driver called police just before midnight to report an erratic driver.

Addendum: Charlestown Pols score four spots on Elections delinquency list

Board of Elections publishes new list of overdue fines on campaign violations

By Will Collette

Addendum: Charlestown's special counsel for Indian Affairs, "Injun Joe" Larisa, was listed by GoLocalProv as "the biggest offender in 2011" of the RI Ethics Law. This was for Larisa's second major ethics violation since 2007. Larisa, the former Mayor of East Providence, represents the town in fighting whatever it is the Narragansett Tribe wants to do. According to Town Hall records, the town has paid Larisa $169,259 since July 2009.

Here we are in the 2012 Campaign season and some local politicians still haven't cleaned up after the 2010 campaign.

The Rhode Island Board of Elections released its new list of overdue campaign fines. These overdue payments total almost $1.2 million and are spread among over 200 individual candidates and PACs. Typically, the fines are for failure to file required campaign finance disclosure forms, with added interest and penalties for non-payment.

News Updates

Serra court date postponed; Watson trial date set; and more
By Will Collette

Terri Serra Court Appearance Postponed. The pre-trial appearance of former Chariho School Committee member for Richmond Terri Serra on the charge of violating the state social host law has been postponed until December 1. Serra was charged by Richmond Police after a horrific car crash in Charlestown on October 23rd critically injured four boys who had been at a teen underage drinking party at Serra's home. More details here. Serra faces a separate Charlestown Police charge for failing to render aid based on witness reports that she went to the scene of the accident, yelled at the injured kids and then left the scene without offering aid or calling 911.

Update on RI GOP crime spree

House Republicans go to court to face charges

By Will Collette

There are very few Republicans serving in the Rhode Island General Assembly, a lot fewer than the Democrats. But per capita statistics, Rhode Island’s Republican lawmakers seem to be on a major crime spree especially for drug-related crime.

In the past couple of days, two of those troubled Republicans had their day in court. Today, Rep. Bob “Marley” Watson (R-East Greenwich) faced the judge in New Haven, CT over DUI and drug possession charges stemming from his arrest last April 22 by East Haven police. And yesterday, Rep. Dan Gordon (R-Portsmouth) was in court in Fall River court answering charges that got him arrested last month.

Short Takes

Donna on TV
Injun Joe on the warpath
Dan Gordon goes to jail (and gets out again)
Bob Watson goes back to court
Watch out for falling space junk and, oh, 
Space aliens are attacking the Earth (and we're all gonna die)
By Will Collette

More politics of the absurd

No Deal (yet) for Watson. Disgraced former House Minority Leader Bob Watson (R-East Greenwich) had another day in court in New Haven, CT. Watson was arrested last April on DUI charges. Marijuana was found in his car and urine tests showed marijuana and cocaine in his system. He managed to squeak by with a blood alcohol level at 0.01 below the DUI limit in Connecticut.

Watson pleaded not guilty and his next court appearance is September 23. Watson has admitted he had the marijuana for a medical condition (but he has not registered to be a medical marijuana user). He also claimed the police were picking on him.

Well, we wrap up (more or less) one conflict (Libya) and another one pops up to take its place. The newest threat to American security is the announcement last week by the Canadian Department of National Defence that it will seek bids to produce a stealth snowmobile. Not a joke. They are prepared to pay up to $550,000 (Canadian) for a prototype. The vehicle must be a hybrid, naturally, and silent enough so Canadian soldiers can swoop down on their unsuspecting enemies – like in Maine or Minnesota.

Bob Watson - what can you say?

That is, aside from "I didn't do it!"

Ousted Republican House Minority Leader Bob Watson (R-East Greenwich) got word that his urine tested positive for both marijuana as well as cocaine As you may recall, last April Watson was pulled over by East Haven, CT police at a sobriety check-point and was busted after failing field sobriety tests.

Police found dope in his car so Watson was busted for DUI and possession. His next week was a piece of wonderful political theatre. He claimed he wasn't under the influence but was carrying marijuana because of a medical condition, but was not a registered marijuana user under RI law. He claimed the Connecticut cops singled him out and were picking on him because he was a legislator. He said he didn't register to legally use marijuana because he was afraid (paranoid?) that someone would blab that he was a user, albeit a legal one.

Bob Watson thrown under the bus

UPDATES: It turns out that this was not Rep. Watson's first DUI bust. Channel 12 reports New Hampshire State Police arrested him on Dec. 3, 1999 for drunk driving. He was found guilty in March 2000, was fined and had his license suspended for three months. Watson was serving as House Minority Leader at the time, the post he lost yesterday. The East Greenwich Patch reported on a meeting Watson and other E. Greenwich General Assembly members held with the EG Town Council. Watson was asked if he could tell his constituents that he would not use illegal drugs again (i.e. if he was going to continue to use marijuana that he would do so under RI's medical marijuana law). Watson refused to answer, citing privacy, even though he had given a long and rambling speech on the subject on the floor of the House.   

BREAKING NEWS: As I predicted, House Republicans ousted Rep. Bob "Dude" Watson as their minority leader just one week after giving him their unanimous support.

As you may recall, Watson was busted on April 22nd in East Haven, CT for possession of marijuana and driving under the influence.

Watson's truly entertaining defense was that he did have marijuana on him because he uses it to treat a medical condition. He claimed he didn't smoke it before being pulled over at a checkpoint and failing the field sobriety test. He said the East Haven police had "targeted" him because he is a legislator and that the police report about his red, glassy eyes and slurred speech was totally false. He said he wished the East Haven police cars had video because that would have vindicated him. He also explained that while he needed the pot for medical reasons, and had done so on medical advice, he was not registered under RI's medical marijuana program because he was afraid his identity would be leaked and people might get the wrong idea.

Bob Watson - Dude!

I know every media outlet in southern New England - and a lot of national media too - are covering the hapless tale of House Republican leader Bob Watson (East, West Greenwich). But I can't resist piling on. Not that I want to revel in the misery of others, unless of course they annoy me.

Watson has been an obnoxious blowhard, insulting and badgering public workers, marriage equality advocates, immigrants and even supporters of medical marijuana and legalized marijuana use. Dude - you are one amazing hypocrite!

Bob is busted!

Watson's mug shot

UPDATE: Watson vehemently denies he did anything wrong, although he does admit to trace evidence of pot in his vehicle. He says he passed an alcohol breathalyzer test, though what that has to do with marijuana use escapes me. He says "These events will be addressed fully in the proper legal forum" later. Possible legal defenses: "I didn’t inhale….that wasn’t my dope….FASCISTS!” or, if he wants to use the great defense pioneered by former DC Mayor Marion Barry, "The bitch set me up!"

Bring on the crazy!

The world of politics seems to be getting even crazier, if that's possible. It's now normal to call school teachers, police officers and fire fighters the villains in the on-going persecution of millionaires and billionaires. It's now ok to consider throwing senior citizens and the disabled under the bus rather than raise taxes on the filthy, stinking rich.

South of One millionaires cry crocodile tears that their seaside mansions haven't been assessed high enough, although they still don't want to pay taxes for schools.

Donald Trump is tied for first place in polling among Republicans as their choice to be President in 2012 (and almost as crazy, Trump's co-leader is Mike Huckabee).

I could go on (and will) but first an important announcement. On Wednesday, April 13th, the Washington Post announces the winners of its annual Peeps® contest. This is almost as big a day for me as International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19).

Now, back to the crazy....