Charlestown Chunks #15

Good food, good stats. We need more affordable housing and less Bob Ritacco and Mikey Chambers 

By Will Collette

Chef/owner of Charlestown restaurant among finalists for prestigious James Beard award

The annual Beard Award is like the Nobel prize for chefs and Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too is one of only three RI chefs to make the final 20 in the competition. Ms Pocknett, a Wampanoag, took over the old Gentleman Farmer space on Route 2 in 2021 and has been serving regional Native American food with remarkable creative flair. 

Since the pandemic, I haven’t gotten out to restaurants much, but Progressive Charlestown co-founder Tom Ferrio enticed me to lunch, and I was very impressed with the taste, quality and value. I had the “Indian Sammich” and it was delicious. I brought home some Indian Pudding for Cathy who declared it was the best she’d ever had. 

Winners will be announced on June 5 at a ceremony in Chicago. 

CRMC takes an unusual vote 

In other local restaurant news, Perry Raso, owner of the outstanding Matunuck Oyster Bar, wants to expand his oyster farm in Potter Pond in South Kingstown despite the usual opposition from area Aqua-NIMBYs. There is general consensus that oyster farming removes pollution from coastal pond water as well as providing jobs and helping to grow Rhode Island’s “blue economy.” 

But Aqua-NIMBYs hate the idea of seeing working people in the water, spoiling their million-dollar views. The Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) whose approval is necessary, voted uncharacteristically to defer to agency experts who are reviewing Raso’s revised and scaled down plan.  

This decision comes after CRMC decisions, often contradicting staff recommendations, were defeated in court. All of this comes as part of a running battle between the Matunuck Oyster Bar and its neighbors after it gained its well-earned reputation as one of the best seafood restaurants in southern New England. 

Surprising survey results 

It’s been an article of faith, particularly among conservatives, that Rhode Island sucks. The media, especially the Providence Journal and GoLocal, feed into this by citing endless surveys ranking Rhode Island against other states. 

The survey industry is huge with numerous companies devoted to crunching numbers and coming up with best and worst listings. One of the largest is Wallethub. Every workday, I get an e-mail from them with the latest rankings they’ve devised. Recently, Rhode Island was ranked in several more unusual categories. 

For example, they did a survey of states that did the most to discourage smoking. In that survey, Rhode Island ranked 4^th among the states, behind Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. Missouri, Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina were deemed the most smoker friendly. 

We also ranked the 4^th worst state for driving that factored in congestion, gas prices, taxes, insurance costs, road quality and car thefts. We came in behind Hawaii, Washington State and Delaware. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see Rhode Island ranked 7^th in the category of workers least likely to quit their jobs. This category was surprisingly divided Blue versus Red, with Blue states seeming to have the best rates of job satisfaction while Red state workers were more likely to want to quit – Alaska, Wyoming and Montana topped that list. The best states for job stability are New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  

Jamestown plans higher property tax credits for volunteer firefighters 

The Jamestown Town Council voted to ask its General Assembly representatives to secure state approval for a planned boost in property tax credits for volunteer first responders which is currently $700. The town wants to raise the credits to $1,000 to $2000 depending on the years of service.  

Jamestown fire chief James Bryer said, “volunteerism is a dying breed right now, and we are trying to figure out how to maintain it here in Jamestown.” 

Charlestown’s active fire districts (as opposed to FAKE districts in Shady Harbor and Central Quonnie) suffer chronic shortages. Charlestown offers no tax incentives to recruit or retain volunteer first responders. They should, in my opinion. 

State education aid would increase to Chariho towns 

If Governor Dan McKee’s budget is passed by the General Assembly, Charlestown would receive an additional $101,029 in state aid. Hopkinton would get an additional $622,664 and Richmond’s share would be $613,523. 

That’s a total of $1,337,216 of proposed additional state aid that would go into the Chariho school system.  

Major political change goes largely unnoticed 

I’ve been watching to see what else might come out to explain the abrupt January 3 notice that former one-term RI Secretary of State Matt Brown was out as both leader and board member of the RI Political Co-op which he founded in 2018. The Co-op largely recruited and helped to support progressive Democrats to run in primaries and elections to counter the mainstream Democratic leadership. 

The Co-op was also Brown’s launch pad for several quixotic runs for state office, all of which he lost in spectacular fashion. The Co-op’s highpoint was the 2020 election that saw eight co-op candidates win. In 2022, it was a different story as Co-op candidates failed across the state. 

In a twist, new state Rep. Megan Cotter originally started out as a Co-op candidate in her near successful 2020 effort to unseat Richmond rightwing nut Justin Price. She dropped her Co-op affiliation for an encore in 2022 and won. 

I’ll update you as more of the backstory comes out, especially as it may affect the 2024 election. 

Update on Bob Ritacco 

Bob Ritacco ran the Westerly Democratic Party like an old-fashioned stereotype of a political boss and dominated town politics despite a record of shady dealings. But his domination came to a decisive close when he was indicted by a state grand jury on two counts of first-degree sexual assault (i.e., rape) last April. 

He has been out on $20,000 bond awaiting trial. However, the Westerly Sun reported that he was supposed to have his pre-trial conference in January, but now that date has been pushed back to May due to time conflicts. 

Charlestown and Charlestownians in the media

Kudos to Thom Cahir who was interviewed by public radio’s Ian Donnis and made these comments about affordable housing: 

“Charlestown Affordable Housing Commission member THOM CAHIR:

 The issue of affordable housing in Rhode Island has been a minefield since the legislature mandated municipalities reach a 10% threshold 30 years ago. Living conditions should have become fairer and more equitable, but only disparity and dichotomy remain. Legislation passed at the end of the session last year was a good start, but with housing costs and rent so high, and people living outdoors and not enough space to shelter them, now is the time to bring all stakeholders together to craft something that allows for more than a "one size fits all" solution. What works in urban areas caused those of us in the hinterlands to rewrite whole swaths of affordable housing, zoning and planning ordinances to come into compliance. Work with local officials to find specific workarounds. Convene the experts to discuss renovating existing structures in cities, and boosting accessory dwelling units in the suburbs and rural areas. And most of all, educate the NIMBY class that their kids can't move back home after college if all they care about is their property values. Also, citizens need to know that communities can't thrive without a healthy workforce. I would urge whoever ends up as the new housing secretary to work with the General Assembly as an opportunity to enlist every stakeholder to push for every creative idea being explored in every corner of the state to make housing more affordable. If not now, when?”

Germane to Thom’s point: new data ranks Charlestown as #14 among Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns for fastest growing home prices. Charlestown’s home prices rose by 8.8% over last year with a typical Charlestown residence priced at $625,840. 

CCA ideologue Mikey Chambers has returned to his former role as the CCA’s most prolific commenter and writer of letters. Lately, he has joined in beating the drum on a couple of favorite new CCA themes: that Charlestown’s low tax rate absolves the CCA of all crimes and misdemeanors and that the CCA really and truly loves the town’s staff, especially those who do exactly what the CCA tells them to do. 

Mikey was particularly worked up over the resignation under pressure of the CCA’s favorite, Town Administrator Mark Stankiewicz (whose rancid record is detailed HERE).  

In a Jan. 28 comment on the CCA blog, Mikey assumed the mantle of an Old Testament prophet on behalf of Stanky, writing: 

“The people responsible for forcing Mark out of his job will be judged on their humanity and character and cannot be absolved from this heinous act unless they publicly come clean. It is not my place to forgive them this sin, they sinned in public and need to seek redemption in public."

Holy shit, Mikey. That’s way over the top even for you. As one of Stankiewicz’s long-time critics, I am proud of my well-documented challenges to him and to his CCA masters.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

CRASH

A bus carrying Prout High School’s girls’ varsity basketball team to Chariho High crashed on King’s Factory Road on the way to the game on January 6. The bus went off the road and hit a tree.  

Several of the young women suffered minor injuries. The driver was charged with several violations including failure to maintain control and leaving the lane of travel. He was not charged with hitting the tree, in violation of Charlestown Ordinance 163-10, “Protection of Trees within public rights-of-way.” 

Charlestown Police Chief Michael Paliotta said investigators found the driver was fiddling with the GPS at the time of the crash.  

EVENTS 

Notices have recently appeared calling for local singers to audition for upcoming performances at the Chorus of Westerly.  This local institution is looking for singers, young and old, to apply. 

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

If you’re looking for something worth picketing, the RI Republican Party has joyously announced that former Trump strumpet Kellyanne Conway will keynote the GOP’s March 2^nd Lincoln Day Dinner at the Event Factory in Warwick. Aside from showing a video of Abraham Lincoln spinning in his grave, you can count on Conway to serve up a steaming pile of lies for all the MAGAnuts in attendance to swallow up. Click here for more details on the event. 

Here's a sad non-event. The once annual RI National Guard Air Show at Quonset is “no longer,” according to Major General Christopher Callahan. The show took a big hit from the pandemic, but the cancellation now has more to do with logistics including a $100 million construction project. The show used to draw thousands of spectators.

UPDATED: Democrats pick their slate for November's General Election

Now we have to keep the blue tide rolling!

By Will Collette

At this writing, all the statewide races have been called except for Governor, where incumbent Dan McKee is holding on to a slim lead over Helena Foulkes whose late surge took her past my personal choice Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. GoLocal called it for McKee with his lead at 2,600. I hope they're wrong.

UPDATE: Well, they were right. McKee did squeeze out a win over Foulkes and Gorbea.

We also have a Democratic nominee for Senate District 38, the open seat created by Dennis Algiere's retirement. Victoria Gu of Charlestown won by a landslide - the final number will be around 66% - swamping Westerly Town Council President Sharon Ahern by at least 35%. RI Political Coop candidate Micheal Niemeyer only managed 6.4% or roughly what the Co-op guru Matt Brown managed in the Governor's race. 

As expected, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner won the primary, outpolling all of his five opponents combined.

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Sabrina Matos easily beat her two opponents, Deb Ruggiero and Cynthia Mendes. Mendes is Matt Brown's running mate. Her 3rd place 20% was more than double what Matt Brown tallied.

My favorite for General Treasurer former Central Falls mayor James Diossa handily beat stuffed shirt carpetbagger Stephan Pryor beating him by 11% at this point in the tally.

Veteran legislator and East Providence school teacher Greg Amore easily beat newcomer Stephenie Beaute by 2 to 1. Attorney General Peter Neronha had no primary opponent.

Around the state, none of the more prominent challenges to incumbent Senators or Representatives appear to have succeeded. Some prominent DINOs faced challengers from Matt Brown's RI Political Coop and a few leftwing incumbents, e.g. Sen. Sam Bell, faced opponents from the right. For the most part, voters stuck with the incumbents.

In November, the marquee races are Congress District 2 and the matchoff between Seth Magaziner and MAGA candidate Allan Fung. The ultimate winner of the primary for Governor will face MAGAnut Ashley Kalus who may or may not be legally registered to vote in RI.

The 2022 Governor's race, so far

How the Democratic Primary for RI Governor Might Be Going

By Samuel Gifford Howard

The accidental leader? (WPRI photo)

The conventional wisdom in RI politics is that Dan McKee is the frontrunner to be the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022. Ted Nesi sums it up in Nesi’s Notes:

…a new poll pegs McKee’s approval rating on coronavirus at 60%. His fundraising has picked up now that he’s the incumbent, with his campaign expected to report about $310,000 raised during the second quarter. He’s got a durable geographic base in the Blackstone Valley. 

He holds orthodox Democratic Party positions, but is temperamentally a moderate. And a man who saw organized labor defect to his Republican opponent eight years ago is now in the good graces of union leaders from the Laborers’ Armand Sabitoni to NEARI’s Bob Walsh… 

Apart from all that, the anti-McKee vote could be split five ways if Matt Brown joins Nellie Gorbea, Seth Magaziner, Jorge Elorza and Luis Daniel Muñoz in seeking the Democratic nomination.

And, you know, the conventional wisdom is probably not wrong. But it may be overstating its case. McKee is getting much of the attention right now large because he’s the person with the most agency to act; most of his potential opponents simply don’t have the benefits of the office of the governor. 

South County progressive incumbents survive primary challenges

Progressive wave builds across the state

By Will Collette 

Three excellent South Kingstown incumbent legislators weathered challenges in the Democratic primary last Tuesday. With all the mail-in ballots counted by Thursday night, Sen. Sue Sosnowski, Rep. Teresa Tanzi and Rep. Kathy Fogarty emerged victorious. 

Teresa won by 71% to 29%. Kathy Fogarty beat her perennial rival Spencer Dickinson by 76% to 24%. Sue Sosnowski faced an opponent from the RI Political Cooperative. Matt Brown’s group targeted Sue for some inexplicable reason even though Sue has a sterling record on the environment (and chairs the powerful Senate Environment Committee). 

Anyway, Sue won her contest by 20 points. 

None of the General Assembly members representing Charlestown had primary challengers. Sen. Dennis Algiere is opposed by a faces a write-in challenger, Julius Dunn. Rep. Blake “Flip” Filippi has no opponent. 

Sen. Elaine Morgan who represents the northern half of Charlestown (and is also one of the most radical right-wingers in the Assembly) had no primary challenger but does face Democrat Jennifer Douglas on November 3. Jennifer is backed by the RI Political Cooperative and is endorsed by a long list of organizations, including the Sierra Club, RI Democratic Women’s Caucus and the United Auto Workers. 

Jennifer did not have a primary opponent. 

In Charlestown’s Democratic primary ballot, the only contested election was Rep. Jim Langevin versus newcomer Dylan Conley. 

Around the state, there were many key legislative races, such as the challenge to Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. Ruggerio fended off progressive challenger Leonard Cioe by less than 10 points (54.7% to 45.3%). 

Several of the senior Dems on his team were not so fortunate. Senate conservative elder Harold Metts, author of the state’s voter ID law and religion-based opponent of women’s right to choose and LGBT rights, was trounced by a 60-40 margin by Tiara Mack, a young African American woman who works for Planned Parenthood. 

Sen. Betty Crowley of Central Falls-Pawtucket was beaten in a three-way primary by 10 points by progressive Jonathon Acosta. My sister lives in Crowley’s district and is delighted to see her go. 

Sen. William Conley was knocked out by progressive Cynthia Mendes by 62% to 34%. Conley’s son Dylan was also trounced by US Representative Jim Langevin who beat him by a three to one margin. 

Senior Conley lost lots of votes as the champion for the highly unpopular plan to redevelop the Metacom country club. I suspect it'll be an interesting Thanksgiving dinner at the Conley house after both father and son got shredded in the political wood-chipper.

In all, 10 Democratic incumbents lost their seats in the Democratic primary. Only one of those losses was by a notable progressive, Rep. Moira Walsh. Walsh has been at the top of House Speaker Nick Mattiello’s hit list and did get beaten by Nathan Biah by 65% to 35%. 

In a classy move, she not only congratulated her opponent but noted that he – as an immigrant and person of color – was probably the more appropriate person to represent District 3 in Providence, given its demographics. You don’t see that very often. 

Just about all of Rhode Island’s media saw the progressives’ advances as the big story of the primary. I see it as a hopeful sign for the November 3 general election from top to bottom.

In tomorrow’s primary, Democrats urged to support Sen. Whitehouse, Matt Brown for Governor, Aaron Regunberg for Lieutenant Governor

Charlestown Democrats endorse candidates for Democratic primary and general election

CDTC Primary picks: Matt Brown for Governor, re-elect Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Aaron Regunberg for Lieutenant Governor

The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) has announced its endorsed candidates for the 2018 Democratic Primary and General Election. 

Newly reelected Chair Catherine Collette stated, "Charlestown's Democrats are very proud to have an outstanding group of men and women to support. We have met with these candidates, and in some cases their primary opponents, and believe that the following will best represent our Town and our State in the coming years.”

For US Senator: incumbent Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

For Congress, Second District: incumbent Rep. Jim Langevin

For Governor in the September 12 Democratic Primary: Matthew Brown

For Lieutenant Governor in the Primary: State Rep. Aaron Regunberg

For Secretary of State: incumbent Nellie Gorbea

For Attorney General: Peter Neronha

For General Treasurer: incumbent Seth Magaziner

For State Senator, District 34: Jennifer Douglas

Brown walks the walk

Matt Brown supporters rally to ‘Take Back Rhode island’

By Steve Ahlquist in UpRiseRI

Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown, who is challenging incumbent Governor Gina Raimondo in the Democratic Primary this Wednesday, September 12, is walking across Rhode Island, from Woonsocket to Narragansett to spread his election message, but he stopped in Burnside Park in downtown Providence to hold his “Take Back Rhode Island” rally. Over 150 people attended.

Brown was preceded on stage by Justice Gaines, candidate for Providence City Council Ward 1 and Rhode Island State Senator Jeanine Calkin (Democrat, District 3, Warwick).

“Against all odds, against millions of dollars in corporate money from around the country, against the American political establishment, being outspent 14 to 1… four days out from the election, we are tied and on the verge of a major political upset,” said Brown to the cheering crowd. “In response, a week or so ago, Governor Raimondo began, from what I’ve heard from many Rhode Islanders… the single most negative campaign they have ever seen….

“They have so much extra money they send the flyers to me too,” said Brown, to laughter.

VOTE on September 12

The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee has made endorsements in the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's September 12 primary elections:

Matt Brown for Governor

Aaron Regunberg for Lieutenant Governor

Gina Raimondo’s “dark money” fueled negative campaign

Matt Brown issues plan to separate ‘big money and democracy’

From UpriseRI Elections 2018 

Where does the money come from that funds all of Gina's negative ads?

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown accused incumbent Governor Gina Raimondo of taking “full advantage of the Supreme Court‘s 2010 Citizens United decision that allows unlimited corporate donations and dark money in elections.”

“She’s earned corporate campaign contributions from the same companies that she offered or awarded corporate handouts to, supported a fracked gas plant despite public outcry, and has been bank-rolled by an opioid manufacturer and people behind anti-LGBTQ Islamaphobic propaganda,” said Brown. 

“We cannot allow someone like this to steal our democracy. We must end corruption in our government so that Rhode Islanders come before corporate donors and Wall Street.”

In supporting research Brown says corroborates his claims:

The candidates for Rhode Island Governor and the environment

2018 R.I. Primary: Candidate Profiles for Governor

Compiled by TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

The Rhode Island primary is scheduled for Sept. 12, and 11 candidates are running for governor, including incumbent Gina Raimondo. Three Democrats, three Republicans, three independents, a Compassion Party candidate, and a Moderate Party member are on the ballot.

ecoRI News sent each candidate a 10-question primary preview focused on environmental issues related to Rhode Island. Only three candidates, those with campaign photos included, took the time to respond.

Here is a look at Rhode Island's gubernatorial primary (candidates listed in alphabetical order):

DEMOCRATS

MATT BROWN
Offices held: Secretary of state 2003-2007
Website: https://www.mattbrownforgovernor.com

Brown is the only challenger with specific environmental objectives, such as 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 and a wind-energy dividend program.

What do you consider the top environmental issue facing Rhode Island? In the short term, new fossil-fuel infrastructure threatens the lives and health of Rhode Islanders and the environment across the state, from South Providence to Burrillville. We must oppose any new fossil-fuel infrastructure to protect our people and our environment. In the long term, climate change, matched only by nuclear weapons, is the biggest existential threat faced by our species, and that includes every single person in Rhode Island. Rising sea levels are a direct threat to our state's extensive coastline, our people, and our ecological health.

What is your position on the proposed Burrillville power plant? I have strongly publicly opposed the Invenergy corporation’s proposed Clear River Energy Center, which would be one of the largest fracked-gas plants in New England and would result the loss of more than 100 acres of forest in northwestern Rhode Island. ISO New England, our regional grid operator, has determined there was no foreseeable need for the plant’s power. The plant would pump hazardous toxins and more than 3.6 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air a year, making it impossible to meet the state’s already conservative carbon reduction goals, and the plant would probably operate for 30 years or more, locking Rhode Island into the polluting, monopoly energy economy of the 19th century for at least another generation.

Raimondo attacked for campaign smear

Matt Brown issues cease and desist to Raimondo campaign over ‘false and defamatory’ ads

By Steve Ahlquist in UpRiseRI

An attorney for the Matt Brown for Governor campaign issued a cease and desist letter to incumbent Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and her senior campaign staff calling on her to immediately retract the false and defamatory statements made in TV and mailer advertisements about Matt Brown.

Specifically, the letter cites the following allegations made by the Raimondo campaign:

• Beginning August 30, the Raimondo Campaign has broadcast a television advertisement that asserts that Mr Brown “ran” his United States Senate campaign “with apparent laundering of campaign contributions,” “hid $150,000 in debt,” and “stiffed his workers over $100,000 in pay”; and that, at the nonprofit organization where he subsequently worked, Mr Brown “pa[id] himself nearly $300,000 a year.”
• On July 5 the Raimondo Campaign sent a message to the Providence Journal, with intent that the newspaper would further circulate it publicly (as it did), that “[Matt Brown’s last campaign in 2006 ended in a criminal investigation.”
• On or about July 23, Governor Raimondo stated to Rhode Island resident Brianna McFadden that Mr. Brown is “most famous for having engaged in money laundering and had to drop out of his Senate campaign for doing that.”

“These absurd, false attacks reveal Gina Raimondo’s deep disrespect for Rhode Islanders, who she assumes aren’t smart enough to spot a blatant lie when they see it,” said Brown in a written statement. 

“But Rhode Islanders are smart and won’t be fooled, and they won’t let our democracy be bought by someone who lies and spends millions of dollars to trick voters and buy an election while refusing to do even one debate. 

"The truth is that the baseless attacks are an attempt to distract from Raimondo’s own financial mismanagement, which adds up to more than $1.5 billion in losses from the UHIP debacle, failed pension investments, Cooler and Warmer, 195 construction debacle, and more.

“Politicians only pour millions of dollars into negative attacks when they know the race is close. 

We’ve heard from multiple sources that a leaked poll from Gina Raimondo’s campaign puts Raimondo and me in a statistical tie among Democrats, and Spencer Dickinson at 2 percent. Gina Raimondo’s campaign is panicking because they know Rhode Island is ready for change and that our grassroots campaign is on the verge of major political upset.”

The cease and desist letter from Washington DC based attorney Laurence Gold takes on each of the allegations in turn.

VIDEO: "I hear you"

To watch this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=LDrZxhUtq7w

The economics of single payer health coverage in Rhode Island

Medicare for All would save RI money—and here’s the math

By Will Weatherly 

Savings under a proposed single-payer
health-care system in RI

Would health care in Rhode Island cost less if everyone had access to it? 

The question, brought to the national stage in arguments surrounding Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Medicare for All plan, came to Rhode Island repeatedly, whether it was when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown announced his own Medicare for All plan, or in reactions to Ted Nesi’s report that a Blue Cross & Blue Shield CEO received a $1.15 million payout a full year after he stepped down.

Two days before the state learned of that exorbitant sum, a spokeswoman for Governor Raimondo told the Providence Journal that the Affordable Care Act “is working in Rhode Island.” 

But for Jerry Friedman, an Economics professor at the University of Massachusetts who has been studying Rhode Island’s health-care costs, massive administrative bonuses are just one reason why he doesn’t think that’s the case.

“I don’t know what she means by working,” Friedman told me on Thursday. 

“Yeah, Rhode Island has done a good job compared to the rest of the country, but there’s still a lot of uninsured people and a lot of underinsured people. So a lot of people are dying in the state because they don’t have health care or they don’t have access to health care.”

Matt Brown goes after Raimondo for slashing pensions

Raimondo’s pension cuts benefited hedge funds more than RI, says Brown

By Will Weatherly in Rhode Island’s Future

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown attacked pension cuts for state employees dating back to Governor Raimondo’s previous role as state treasurer at a town-hall style “Restore Our Pensions” event at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence on Monday evening.

The event came mere hours after WPRI published polling results showing Brown lagging behind in name recognition, and featured vocal ire from one advocate for the governor.

Despite those setbacks, an overwhelming majority of attendees, many of whom were retired teachers, responded to Brown’s proposals and critiques of Governor Raimondo with excitement, and many expressed a sense of betrayal at the governor’s previous management of the pension fund.

In 2011, Raimondo announced that the state would freeze cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for two decades, as well as invest more than $1 billion in retirement assets in hedge funds for “hybrid,” 401(k)-style retirement plans.

In 2016, Treasurer Seth Magaziner rolled back Gov. Raimondo’s plan, shifting $500 million away from hedge funds to more stable assets. Magaziner told CNBC that the hedge funds “did not perform well” and “did not provide protection during the periods of volatility that we’ve had over the last year.”

Brown pushed further, arguing that “the drastic cuts that Governor Raimondo put in place did not need to be made,” and that the state had lost $500 million in in “high-risk, high-fee” hedge funds, as opposed to what would be made in stable index funds, in the process.

Can Rhode Island provide universal health coverage?

Matt Brown calls for “Medicare for All”

By Will Weatherly in Rhode Island’s Future

Democratic candidate for Governor Matt Brown announced last Friday that he supports a “Medicare for All” plan for Rhode Island, which will both counter Gov. Raimondo’s Medicaid cuts and “save Rhode Island money every year,” he said in a press release.

“If people lose a job, they lose their health care. Small businesses pay so much to insure their employees, it stops them from hiring even when they need the extra help,” said the press release. 

“For 40,000 Rhode Islanders, there is no affordable insurance plan so they have none; they use emergency rooms and urgent care clinics, and the bills pile up.”

Brown’s proposal, he says, will “create a state health insurance system that mirrors the most successful, affordable and comprehensive health insurance provider in the country—Medicare —and covers the health care needs of everyone in Rhode Island.”

He says it will save the state money by shifting “administrative costs and insurance executives’ high salaries.” 

This week, the Mercatus Center, a Koch-funded libertarian think tank, agrees. It released a report which found a national Medicare for All plan would save Americans around $2.054 trillion over a ten-year period, according to a report at Jacobin.