Deadline for comments is Wednesday, July 30

Action Alert: Make Your Voice Heard for Upgrading Westerly Station

From state Senator Victoria Gu

Westerly Station has been really busy this summer, with dozens of people getting on, some struggling with suitcases and narrow stairs. I tried bringing my bike on board, and it was a little difficult with stairs! That’s why upgrading the station with high-level platforms is a no-brainer for Westerly. It helps people get on and off the train safely and is a big win for accessibility.

The RI Division of Statewide Planning has opened the public comment period for its 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program. The deadline to comment is July 30th at 4pm

Please send in a comment using the link below expressing your support for the Westerly Platform project. It could be as simple as saying “I support the Westerly Platform project and would like to see these upgrades as soon as possible”. 

The draft plan already calls for the construction of high-level platforms at Westerly Station, which is a prerequisite to extending Shore Line East to Westerly (Connecticut’s commuter rail currently runs from NYC to New London).

The more enthusiasm that Rhode Island sees for the project, both from RI and CT residents, the more likely it is to make it a priority. The sooner the platforms are upgraded, the sooner we can extend Shore Line East to Rhode Island!

Send in your comment in support!

Monday: Town Hall with Charlestown legislators Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Tina Spears

The Bills, the Buzz, and the Big Decisions: RI’s Legislative Year in Review

Join State Senator Victoria Gu and Representative Tina Spears for a lively discussion on what bills passed in the State House, what stalled, how the new laws could impact our community, and give your feedback on priorities for next year. 

Topics include: environment & shoreline access, healthcare, housing, education & technology

 Date: Monday July 7th

 Time: 6-7:30pm

 Location: Quonochontaug Grange Hall, 5662 Post Road, Charlestown, RI, 02813

General Assembly gives Charlestown authorization to create a Homestead Tax break

Goes to Governor for signature

By Will Collette

Thank you to our State Rep. Tina Spears (D) for getting H6247 passed in the House and Sen. Victoria Gu (D) for shepherding it through the Senate. And thank you, Council President Deb Carney for getting the ball rolling. All the bill needs now is the Governor’s signature and there’s no doubt he will sign it.

This bill gives the Charlestown Town Council the authority to craft an ordinance so those of us who make Charlestown our home can get a break on our property taxes in what’s called a “Homestead Exemption.” The legislation allows the town to exempt up to 10% of your assessed value.

For a house assessed at $500,000, that would knock the assessment down by $50,000. At the anticipated July 1 tax rate of $5.93, that would save around $300.

Many coastal communities offer permanent residents this tax break because we pay year-round for an infrastructure that can accommodate absentee landowners and other summer people.

Summer people also take their toll on our nerves through increased traffic, trash and noise. Other than their taxes, they contribute little to Charlestown’s economy other than the occasional meal at our few local restaurants and grocery shopping at Rippy’s and the Mini-Super.

Out of state landowners have been buying up Charlestown beach properties at unheard prices. Most recently, 18 Ninigret Avenue just sold for $5.5 million to a buyer who lives on Park Avenue in Manhattan. They paid more than $2.2 million above the home’s assessed value of $3,292,600.

So far this year, almost a dozen posh homes have sold to non-residents all at premium prices well over their assessed value. While none match the $2.2 million premium paid for 18 Ninigret Avenue, all but two of the other high-rollers paid more than $350,000 above assessed value. In second place after Ninigret Avenue are the Massachusetts buyers of 14 Highland Road who paid $718,900 above assessed value.

These folks seem to have money to burn.

Here’s the complete list of $1 million+ Charlestown sales in 2025 from our Tax Assessor’s office. Note that Starett Road is a duplicate entry:

Eight buyers live in Massachusetts and Connecticut (4 each). New York, New Jersey and Florida each had one.

During the years the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) ruled Charlestown, they stifled any notion of giving local homeowners any tax break that would come at the expense of non-resident landowners.

The issue crested in December 2011 and ended in what I dubbed “The Riot of the Rich.” Town Hall was packed with rich non-residents, CCA devotees, right-wing nuts like Jim Mageau and Harry Staley and a few sadly misinformed locals who denounced the Charlestown Democratic Committee proposal for a Homestead Tax Credit as the opening salvo in a class war.

It was unfair to the wealthy, they said, and claimed that raising their taxes would drive them to move out, make them boycott local businesses and not give to local charities. They said all this with a straight face.

Since absentee landowners provide a substantial portion of the CCA’s election fund, there was no way the CCA leadership would support the idea. They stomped the homestead credit to death for the duration of their reign.

Then the CCA was finally beaten by Charlestown Residents United (CRU) in 2022 and in 2024 when an all-CRU Town Council slate was elected. That made it safe to talk about issues banned by the CCA.

The Council is currently chaired by Deb Carney (D) who was one of the few brave voices to speak out for the homestead credit in 2011. It was after her Council resolution that state Representative Tina Spears (D) introduced a bill modelled on the recently passed South Kingstown legislation.

Here’s the official timeline for the bill’s quick passage:

House Bill No. 6247

BY Tina Spears

ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES (Grants the town council of the town of Charlestown the authority to enact a homestead exemption ordinance.)

04/23/2025 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

04/25/2025 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/01/2025)

05/01/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

06/06/2025 Scheduled for consideration (06/10/2025)

06/10/2025 Committee recommends passage

06/13/2025 Placed on House Calendar (06/16/2025)

06/16/2025 House read and passed

06/16/2025 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/18/2025)

06/18/2025 Senate passed in concurrence

06/18/2025 Transmitted to Governor

Once McKee signs, the action shifts back to the Town Council who must craft and present a new ordinance for public hearing. They will need to decide whether to do it (and I hope they will) and if so, at what percentage of assessed value. If they act quickly, we could have an ordinance in place when the legislation kicks in on December 31, plenty of time for applying the exemption to next year's tax bills.

The legislation details what properties are eligible.

Here’s the text of the bill:

AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

Introduced By: Representative Tina L. Spears

Date Introduced: April 23, 2025

Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 44-5 of the General Laws entitled "Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

44-5-89. Charlestown homestead exemption.

(a) The town council of the town of Charlestown is authorized to annually fix the amount, if any, of a homestead exemption, with respect to assessed value, from local taxation on taxable real property used for residential purposes or mixed purposes, defined as a combination of residential and commercial uses, in the town of Charlestown, and to grant homestead exemptions to the owner, or owners, of residential real estate, or combination residential and commercial real estate, in an amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the assessed value. The exemption shall apply to property used exclusively for residential purposes, and improved with a dwelling containing less than five (5) units, or real property used for a combination of residential and commercial uses. When real property is used for mixed purposes, the percentage of the assessed value shall be a prorated amount. The prorated amount shall be the percentage of square feet of the parcel used for residential purposes, multiplied by the percentage of the homestead exemption. In order to determine compliance with the homestead exemption as outlined in this section, the town council shall provide, by resolution or ordinance, rules and regulations governing eligibility for the exemption established by this section.

(b) In the event property granted an exemption under this section is sold or transferred during the year for which the exemption is claimed, the town council of the town of Charlestown, 19 1 upon approval of the town council, may provide for a proration of the homestead exemption in 2 3 4 cases where title to property passes from those not entitled to claim an exemption to those who are entitled to claim an exemption.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on December 31, 2025.

Democratic South County women win passage of lots of good legislation

General Assembly powerhouses

By Will Collette

Thank you Tina and Victoria

In case you haven’t noticed it, most of South County’s General Assembly members are Democratic women. Among the few exceptions are Charlestown-connected Rep. Bob Craven of No. Kingstown, one of the body’s most powerful members, and two Westerly DINOcrats, Sen. Sam Azzinaro and Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy.

Then there’s MAGA outlier Sen. Elaine Morgan (R) whose contribution this session has consisted of embarrassing MAGA stunts including one where she impersonated a DOGE agent to try to get into a homelessness program in Providence.

The dominance of South County’s Democratic women shows in their remarkable output of significant legislation and, this year in particular, their ability to get these bills passed.

Now that this year’s General Assembly has closed, my inbox is filled with notices of bills passed. Sponsors of these bills include Charlestown’s Senator Victoria Gu and Tina Spears, South Kingstown’s Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, Sen. Sue Sosnowski, Reps. Teresa Tanzi and Kathy Fogarty, and Sen. Alana DiMario.

Today’s roundup only includes bills passed at the end of the session, not the bills passed earlier. I’ve usually posted notices about those bills as they happened.

Rep. Megan Cotter (Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter) scored her impressive achievements on bills to protect lives, land and homes in the past few weeks.

The greatest achievements are in the areas of affordable housing, land use and health care.

I congratulate them all. Trying to get anything done in the General Assembly is hard and often disappointing work but they can all take pride in their ability to get things done to benefit South County and the rest of Rhode Island.

Below, I’ve pasted in the reports on the bills that passed at the session’s close.

General Assembly approves Victoria Gu to fight cryptocurrency ATM fraud

Hope it covers Trump’s crypto coin 

The General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by Senate Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies Committee Chairwoman Victoria Gu and Rep. Julie A. Casimiro that aims to protect Rhode Islanders from a rapidly growing category of scams that use cryptocurrency ATMs to defraud victims.

“Cryptocurrency ATMs are kiosks that allow users to deposit cash and easily convert it into cryptocurrency. We’ve seen victims in our own communities lose thousands of dollars when scammers direct them to send cash through these machines. Rhode Island, compared to some neighboring states, is behind the curve on regulating this new technology,” said Chairwoman Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). 

“Crypto ATMs are unfortunately an increasingly common way for criminals to get away with their ill-gotten gains and without increased regulation, this trend will only accelerate.”

Bevy of bills by area legislators advance

As the end of this year's General Assembly nears, local legislators push to get bills passed

Senate OKs Gu bill protecting parking at shore access points

The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Victoria Gu to protect the public’s access to the shore by establishing requirements that must be followed before parking can be reduced or restricted near any Coastal Resources Management Council designated right of way.

The bill is part of a package of bills sponsored in the Senate by Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) and in the House by Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown) to protect public shoreline access.

The bill (2025-S 0716aa) would set requirements that municipalities, private agencies and other organizations would have to follow before they could reduce or restrict parking near designated CRMC rights of way. These requirements would include submitting a comprehensive parking plan, analyzing the impact on accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act and conducting a public comment period of at least 30 days. It would also allow the CRMC and DEM to enforce these requirements and impose fines and penalties if they are violated. Any fines and penalties would go into a newly created Rhode Island Shoreline Access Improvement Fund, a restricted receipt account that will be used to support projects enhancing public access to the shoreline.

The bill now goes to the House, where Representative Cortvriend is sponsoring its companion (2025-H 6093).

“Sometimes, local governments — often pressured by nearby property owners — will remove or reduce public parking near beach access points. This makes it harder for the public to visit, since fewer people will come if they can’t park nearby. This legislation provides guardrails and a public, transparent process if there is any effort to reduce or restrict the parking available near a CRMC-designated right of way to the shore,” said Senator Gu.

In recent years changes to parking near public rights of way have drawn complaints from members of the public who say that they serve to restrict public access to only those who already live on the waterfront.

House approves Fogarty bill that would allow driver education in an instructor-led virtual format

The House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) that would allow virtual driver education classes.

The bill (2025-H 5731A) would permit instructor-led virtual instruction for driver education until July 1, 2027, and calls for an evaluation of the program.

“Not everyone has access to driver’s education classrooms, and many students prefer virtual learning, particularly those with physical or learning challenges,” said Representative Fogarty. “It also provides an alternative for families whose parents may not be able to take the time off to bring their children to driving instruction in traditional classrooms.”

Mary Maguire, vice president of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast, testified in favor of the bill, telling the House Committee on State Government and Elections, “During the pandemic, students could only take driver education virtually, and the format proved to be very effective. During the pandemic, we taught almost 100 virtual classes to more than 2,300 Rhode Island students. We found that our virtually trained students’ average test scores were almost identical to what they were before COVID.”

Under the terms of the legislation, the Board of Education would be required to provide a report comparing test scores of virtual versus in-person instruction to the speaker of the House and president of the Senate no later than Sept. 1, 2027.

The measure now moves to the Senate where similar legislation (2025-S 0832) has been introduced by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton).      

Senate approves Sosnowski legislation creating license to harvest invasive green crabs

Schoodic Institute/Suzannah Buzzell

The Senate approved legislation introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown) that would create a license for the harvesting of green crabs.

The European green crab is an invasive species in Rhode Island’s coastal waters. Like many invasive species, the green crab poses a threat to the ecosystem and is particularly harmful for shellfish and eelgrass habitats, which serve as nurseries for native marine species.

The bill (2025-S 0938A) would authorize the Department of Environmental Management to offer commercial licenses for the taking of green crabs subject to a fee of $10.

“Not only are green crabs an invasive species, they are also a high-protein food source,” said Senator Sosnowski, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture. “Under current state law, they can only be caught with a $200 non-lobster crustacean endorsement add-on to the DEM marine license. A $10 license exclusively for green crabs would greatly increase access to the harvesting of a species that is endangering native sea life, including quahogs and blue crabs.”

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives where similar legislation (2025-H 6157) has been introduced by Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown).           

Senate approves Sosnowski bid to make clean air, soil and climate a state constitutional right

The Senate approved a resolution introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown) that seeks to add a Green Amendment to the state constitution.

The resolution (2025-S 0327) would ask the state’s voters to amend Article I of the state constitution to provide all people in the state with an inherent, inalienable, indefeasible and self-executing right to clean air, health and uncontaminated soil, a life supporting climate and the preservation of the environment’s natural, scenic and recreational values.

“When it comes to protecting the environment, Rhode Island has always been a leader, and I’m proud that the General Assembly has prioritized protecting the vast natural resources of our small state,” said Senator Sosnowski, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture. “This would ask Rhode Island voters to forever enshrine in our constitution the protection of these resources for present and future generations.”

If enacted, Rhode Island would join Montana, Pennsylvania and New York in preserving environmental rights in its constitution.

The measure, which would be placed on the ballot at the next statewide general election, now moves to the House of Representatives where similar legislation (2025-H 5732) has been introduced by Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), who chairs the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Senate passes DiMario’s textile recycling bill

UpriseRI

The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) that would create a public outreach campaign about textile recycling.

“This legislation is needed because most of the public does not realize that textiles can be recycled and that recycled textiles are a valuable commodity.  And by increasing the practice of textile recycling, we will also be able to extend the life of the state’s landfill, which is rapidly approaching its capacity.  At a time when we are striving to create a more sustainable way of life, this bill will move us closer to that goal,” said Senator DiMario.

According to the most recent data, an estimated 28,860 tons of textiles from residential, industrial and commercial institutions were delivered to the landfill per year, and the state’s only landfill will reach its capacity by 2046.

The legislation (2025-S 0324) would create a public education outreach program to educate residential households and commercial businesses on the value of, and proper methods to, recycle textiles in the state.  The bill also contains a reporting and accountability requirement to measure if the outreach and education program is effective in helping individuals, businesses, and municipalities increase their textile recycling rates and divert textiles from the landfill.

It was developed with input from the Department of Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the League of Cities and Towns, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island (BBBSRI).  Organizations like BBBSRI recycle non-usable textiles and utilize the profits to fund essential programs.  In addition, cities and towns will benefit from reduced tipping fees if textiles are recycled properly as opposed to being thrown away.

The bill now heads to the House for consideration, where Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence) has introduced the legislation (2025-H 5293).  Representative Hull’s bill was approved by the House on March 20 and was passed by the Senate Environment and Agricultural Committee on May 28.

Will Rhode Island finally get serious about taxing the rich?

Millionaire’s tax proposal is getting a warm reception from new R.I. Senate leadership

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, foreground center, a Providence Democrat, is a longtime supporter of raising income taxes on the state’s top earners. Left of him, in more ways than one, is Charlestown Sen. Victoria Gu. Ciccone may be key to advancing the perennial legislation in the Rhode Island State House this year. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

A standing room-only crowd packed the State House basement to rehash the merits of a proposed tax increase on top earners in Rhode Island during a five-hour hearing before a House legislative panel.

Rhode Island 2025 income tax rates

Rhode Island has relied on the same three-tiered income tax rates since 2010, when lawmakers lowered the top tax rate from 9.9% to 5.99%. Earnings thresholds for each rate are adjusted annually for inflation.

Current rates are:

• 3.75% for filers who earn up to $79,900
• 4.75% for filers who earn $79,900 to $181,650
• 5.99% for filers who earn more than $181,650

But the person who might finally shake loose the long-stalled progressive priority wasn’t even in the room: Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone III. The Providence Democrat ascended to the No 2. position in the upper chamber last week under a leadership shuffle prompted by the death of former Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.

Ruggerio long-opposed raising taxes on wealthy residents, but his successor, Senate President Valarie Lawson, and her right hand, Ciccone, both support the idea, and are  co-sponsors of this year’s Senate legislation.

Sen. Victoria Gu takes aim at bloated utility profits

Enough is enough

Photo by Steve Ahlquist

Sen. Victoria Gu has introduced a pair of bills to put a limit on the profit that can be made by utilities distributing electricity and natural gas in Rhode Island and to ensure that future transactions made between utilities are reviewed in a public, transparent process that serves the broad public interest.

“Every winter, constituents come to me asking why their utility bills are so high. People are struggling and frustrated. We need to do a better job of regulating our utilities, which are monopolies, and controlling costs,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). 

“It is our job as legislators to make sure that utilities serve the public interest and are not profiting excessively while residents suffer.”

The first bill (2025-S 0018) would limit the return on equity (the industry term for profit margin) of public electric or gas distribution utilities in Rhode Island to 4 percent in any year.

In Rhode Island, utility companies are not allowed to make profit on procuring energy to supply ratepayers. They instead earn a rate of return on the delivery of the energy, based on the infrastructure they build in Rhode Island. Rhode Island Energy, which distributes both electricity and natural gas to most of Rhode Island, is allowed a return on equity of 9.275% on its distribution of gas and electric under the rate agreement that took effect in September 2018, before the company was sold by National Grid to PPL in 2022.

Investor-owned utilities, like Rhode Island Energy, have an incentive to build more expensive infrastructure projects in order to increase profits for their investors. 

Rhode Island Home Insurance Costs Rise

In the insurance game, the insurer always wins

By Rob Smith / ecoRI News staff

Florida has been rocked by destructive hurricanes, and California by catastrophic wildfires, leading many insurance companies to either raise their rates or withdraw from those states.

Is something similar happening in Rhode Island?

According to Elizabeth Dwyer, director of the Department of Business Regulation, which oversees many commercial insurance policies in Rhode Island, homeowner insurance rates are increasing, but not because of what is happening in other states.

“Building costs go up, demand goes up — they call it the demand surge — it’s more expensive to repair your home, and reinsurance costs go up,” Dwyer testified recently before the House of Representatives study commission on climate change impacts. “Are my rates going up because of wildfires in California? The answer is no, because there’s no direct effect like that.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Trump tariffs on building material, especially steel, aluminum and lumber, are also driving up costs as well as labor shortages from his deportation push. - W. Collette

Insurance availability in Rhode Island isn’t the issue, according to Dwyer, but rather insurance affordability. Property insurance premiums are expected to rise in the near future, she said, and most Rhode Island homeowners lack flood insurance, since it isn’t required.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dwyer is WRONG. Availability IS a big issue, especially along the coast where insurers are refusing to renew policies because of storm hazards driven by climate change. It took me a month and a half to find replacement coverage - at double the price - after receiving a "Notice of Non-Renewal (see above left)." Also, as I shopped around, I discovered other impediments. 

For example, I almost had a replacement deal with one popular carrier, but at the last minute, they pulled out. Why? Because in Charlestown (like most of rural Rhode Island) we have no fire hydrants meaning a newly unacceptable insurance risk due to this new rule that kicked in January 1.

The crisis involves more than exorbitant rate hikes. If you can't get homeowner insurance, you are in default of the terms of your mortgage. You may also be unable to sell your home. Your property values will surely be compromised. Falling property values will affect town revenues that may impact your property taxes.    - Will Collette

Victoria's running for re-election. Here's one way to support her

Victoria Gu's new bill helps protect beach access

South County legislators host session with RI Energy on March 24

Charlestown's Senator Gu and Representative Spears among co-hosts

State lawmakers representing South and North Kingstown, Charlestown, Westerly, Block Island and Narragansett will hold a public forum with representatives from Rhode Island Energy regarding electrical and natural gas prices on Monday, March 24, at 6 p.m. at the South Kingstown High School Auditorium at 215 Columbia St. in Wakefield. 

They will discuss programs to assist ratepayers who are having trouble paying their bills and address questions and concerns from members of the public.

The hosts, all Democratic women representing South County communities are: 

UPDATED: Charlestown State Senator Elaine Morgan’s racism continues to embarrass

Morgan is a disgrace

By Will Collette

UPDATED with the verbatim response from Morgan posted on-line by her. It appears at the end of this article.

Since her election in 2014, state Senator Elaine Morgan (R-MAGA) seems to aspire to new heights of stupidity and bigotry with every passing year. Morgan represents the northern half of Charlestown.

Morgan is crass, racist, ignorant and totally ineffective in representing her constituents. The contrast with her Senate colleague Victoria Gu who represents the southern half of Charlestown couldn’t be starker. Victoria is smart, classy and thoughtful, plus she delivers real results especially when it comes to coastal protection.

Yes, those are generalities, so let’s get to the most recent specific. WJAR reports that Morgan staged a late night, self-described DOGE-like raid on the newly opened ECHO Village Pallet shelters in Providence featuring new pre-fab one-room shelters. Apparently, this area became a new part of Morgan’s district.

Her Dogey fact-finding mission failed when her unannounced nighttime visit was turned away by security guards responsible for the safety and privacy of the site’s homeless residents.

How dare they!!!

So Morgan went to Facebook and posted this:

"I was not welcome [. – SIC] I was told by a Big Rolly Poly [SIC] Dark skinned man with a lanyard around his neck."

Apropos of nothing, she added:

"REALLY!! Guess I’ll be checking more into this HEAVILY FENCED GATED COMMUNITY [WTF?]. Where the smell of cannabis was overwhelming [SIC].”

According to WJAR, she changed the post several times and landed on this version:

"I was told by a Large Dark skinned [SIC] man with a lanyard around his neck. [SIC]'I was not welcome there [SIC] this is private property.'"

House of Hope photo

Laura Jaworski, director of the non-profit House of Hope that operates the facility gave this statement to WJAR:

"The state senator’s remarks are both uninformed and offensive. The language used to describe one of our staff members is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate the disparagement of our residents or our dedicated team…Furthermore, pulling up unannounced at night and demanding a tour of ECHO Village is entirely inappropriate. Our policies are in place to protect the safety, privacy, and dignity of the individuals we serve, many of whom have experienced significant trauma… At House of Hope, the safety and well-being of our residents and staff at ECHO Village are our top priorities. Our team works hard to create a compassionate environment where residents are connected with essential resources like case management and permanent housing supports."

Funding and Jurisdiction

Elaine Morgan conducted her raid without any authorization from the General Assembly or any other authority, despite her Facebook posting's claim that she is "with Fox News and Doge [SIC]." Did Elon Musk give her a DOGE badge or a subpoena? Did Fox News issue her with press credentials?

The project is well outside her district. The project was also funded by federal funds passed through the state and the City of Providence. As Senator Jack Reed pointed out:

“This project [Echo Village] is paid for entirely with over $4.5 million in federal funds that I helped deliver to enable the state to expand and improve its homelessness prevention services.  We need a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to ensure that no Rhode Islander experiencing homelessness is without access to safe, warm housing that protects them from the elements.”

The Preserve Residences, from their website.

Morgan whines about fencing and security. In fact, that fencing and security not only is designed to protect residents but also to accommodate the site’s neighbors. 

Echo Village is not, as Morgan claims, a “gated community.” No one but a fool would confuse the one-room pallet houses at Echo Village with, for example, the controversial Preserve Residences (see photo at right) in Morgan’s district which describes itself as “Your Own Private Luxury Retreat.”

This is not the first time Elaine Morgan abused her office to conduct her own private crusade. In 2015, I reported on a complaint filed against Morgan for using her then office as Hopkinton Town Sergeant to interfere in a complicated domestic dispute. The town sergeant does not have police power. 

Hopkinton Police took no action against Morgan on this complaint nor on another complaint filed against her. The Hopkinton Town Solicitor refused to release any details about either of these cases other than to acknowledge their existence citing Morgan’s privacy rights, a novel defense of a public official who allegedly broke the law. Find more detail and documentation HERE.

What can we do about Morgan?

Being an ignorant racist has never seemed to bother her constituents enough to dump her. Further, being such a jerk has earned Morgan some national prominence as in 2015 when she called for Syrian refugees to be imprisoned in camps because of their religion.

She even made the renowned FRED list (Fanatical Republican of the Day) list a record 9 times for her far-right nuttiness.

She even got through the 2024 election unscathed despite her 22 year old son Ian’s no contest plea to Westerly Police charges of third-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl he had met online. His plea came in September shortly before the election.

What makes Ian’s misdeeds relevant is Morgan’s long record of promoting legislation to crack down on sex offenses including third-degree sexual assault. But of course she also supports a sex offender in the White House.

In 2022, Morgan was busted by the state Board of Election for illegally looting her campaign accounts to go on personal spending sprees (ever classy, she laid the blame on her deceased husband while making the contradictory claim that she "takes full responsibility"). MAGA-leaning voters in Richmond, Hopkinton and Exeter stuck with her. With some pride, voters in northern Charlestown usually support Morgan’s opponents by wide margins.

Since her MAGA-leaning constituents seem to like her racism, corruption and ineffectiveness, what can be done?

The RI Constitution does not allow for recall elections against state legislators. Some towns allow for recall elections of local elected officials. Example: the Gun Lobby’s unsuccessful effort to oust the entire Exeter Town Council by recall election in 2013. But municipal recall ordinances don’t apply to state legislators.

However, I suggest exploring whether her conduct, especially her abuse of power and racist verbiage, warrants a complaint to the RI Ethics Commission. Using her position as a state Senator to stage an unauthorized raid on a non-profit public service outside of her jurisdiction seems ripe for a sustainable ethics complaint, but I’m not a lawyer. I would invite those who ARE to weigh in on this subject.

I blame King Donald

The new regime of King Donald and President Musk has given license to people like Morgan to feel emboldened to say and do some truly terrible things.

All over the country, racists, white nationalists and Nazis have been liberated to run amok.

Triggered by Trump’s implied blessing, Morgan deputized herself as a one-woman posse and set out to bust those alleged pot-smoking homeless people in Providence who were trying to get a night’s sleep without being rousted by some Hopkinton fruitcake.

I think Morgan's response speaks for itself without any additional commentary from me.  - W. Collette

Victoria Gu bill would help protect victims of artificial intelligence systems

Sen. Gu, Rep. Carson introduce bill to set liability standards for AI 

Interesting article: CLICK HERE TO READ IT.

Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Lauren H. Carson are sponsoring legislation to ensure that victims of accidental harm caused by artificial intelligence systems have legal recourse.

“This bill narrowly focuses on accidental harms from AI: when an AI system misbehaves and does something harmful that the user never intended, who is responsible?” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown), who is chairwoman of the newly created Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. 

Could Commuter Rail Service Come to Westerly?

Some big "What Ifs" include what if President Musk wipes out Amtrak and even if not, where will the funding come from?

Joe Biden loves Amtrak so of course King Donald hates it

By Colleen Cronin / ecoRI News staff

EDITOR'S NOTE: My last job before retirement had
me travelling from Westerly to downtown Manhattan several times
a month. I loved it! The stretch between Westerly and New London
is one of the most beautiful in the Northeast Corridor  - W. Collette

When a train rumbles into Westerly’s historic train station, it’s always Amtrak en route to or coming from Providence or New York.

But a group of residents would like to see more service roll into town, and they are working on ways to make it happen.

“People have been trying to get commuter rail back into this part of the world for a long time,” Doug Brockway, a member of the Westerly’s Commuter Rail Advocacy Group, told ecoRI News.

Rail service was abandoned in the area after World War II, and although Amtrak runs about five trains a day through Westerly, the relatively high cost of tickets and lack of frequency prevents train travel in the area from reaching its full potential, Brockway said.

Commuter rail service, either from Connecticut or Massachusetts, cannot stop in Westerly because the station doesn’t have raised platforms. The current configuration also makes getting Amtrak passengers on and off trains at the station more difficult and slower.

So the changes could also benefit Amtrak, which owns the tracks and would have to foot the bill for improvements, Brockway said.

The Eastern Connecticut Rail & Transit Feasibility Study completed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) in 2023 estimated that raising the platforms would cost about $32 million.

If Amtrak raised the platforms, Shore Line East trains run by CTDOT could come to Westerly from New London, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency (MBTA) commuter rail cars could come further south (as of now, the Providence-Stoughton Commuter Rail Line only reaches Wickford Junction in North Kingstown).

State lawmakers take on Rhode Island Energy as utility bills and frustrations soar

Cotter and Gu lead fight to curb electricity bills

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

 Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, greets constituent
Chris Callaci while canvassing on the day of the Nov. 5 election
outside Exeter Chapel. (Photo by Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Fueled by constituent concerns over rapidly rising — and more unpredictable — gas and electric bills, Rhode Island lawmakers are cranking the heat up on the state’s primary utility operator.

Leading the charge is Rep. Megan Cotter, whose district abuts Charlestown, who introduced a pair of bills in January that, if approved, would cut Rhode Island Energy’s profit margins by more than half while potentially introducing a rival, publicly owned utility company. 

“When I was door-knocking, all people were talking about is that they can’t afford to pay for food, utilities, insulin,” Cotter said in an interview on Thursday, referring to her 2024 reelection campaign. “Something’s gotta give.”

The cyclical rise and fall of utility bills has trended higher in recent years, with supply-side electricity costs reaching record levels in 2022 and 2023. 

PPL Corp., Rhode Island Energy’s parent company, on Thursday reported $888 million in profits for 2024, including utility operations in Rhode Island, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The earnings mark a 20% increase over the prior year, with a corresponding increase in earnings per share.

Its Rhode Island segment increased annual earnings per share from 13 to 15 cents per year over year, according to the earnings report. 

Rhode Island law authorizes the state’s utility regulators to cap the percentage of revenue its utility provider can earn off gas and electric operations. Since 2018, under a settlement with prior owner National Grid, revenue has been capped at 9.275% per year, with any excess on either gas or electric operations returned to ratepayers.

But Cotter thinks that’s too high. One of her bills would cap annual revenue at 4% of gas and electric operations, beginning on July 1, 2025. A companion bill was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate by Victoria Gu, a Westerly Democrat.

Already, Rhode Island Energy has come out in opposition, even though its annual return on equity margin has come in far below the 9.275% cap in both gas and electric operations in 2022 and 2023, the most recent data available from the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.

Rep. Casimiro, Sen. Gu introduce bill to regulate crypto ATMs

Rhode Island consumers lost $10 million in one year

A bill introduced by Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Julie A. Casimiro aims to protect Rhode Islanders from a rapidly growing category of scams that use cryptocurrency ATMs to defraud victims. 

“Cryptocurrency ATMs are kiosks that allow users to deposit cash and easily convert it
into cryptocurrency. We’ve seen victims in our own communities lose thousands of dollars when scammers direct them to send cash through these machines. Rhode Island, compared to some neighboring states, is behind the curve on regulating this new technology,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) who is chairwoman of the newly created Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. “Crypto ATMs are unfortunately an increasingly common way for criminals to get away with their ill-gotten gains and without increased regulation, this trend will only accelerate.”

Diverse caucus in the RI General Assembly re-organizes

Charlestown's state Senator Victoria Gu is a prominent member

That's Sen. Gu on the far right-side The Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus (RIBLIA) held its first meeting of the 2025 legislative session yesterday.  Two new members of the caucus were welcomed and two new co-chairs were also elected.             The caucus was chaired by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) and Rep. Leonela Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket) during the 2023-2024 legislative sessions.             “It has been a distinct honor to chair the RIBLIA Caucus over the past two years and both of us are extremely proud of what has been accomplished during this time,” said Senator Acosta and Representative Felix.  “The caucus has made some notable policy gains and I know that it will continue to be a voice for the vulnerable and downtrodden during the current session.  As we see policy after policy coming from the federal government that chooses to attack and scapegoat our most vulnerable populations, the RIBLIA Caucus will always choose to defend and uplift the community against such attacks, and we are ready to continue this mission during the new year.”

Charlestown's state Senator Victoria Gu to head new committee on artificial intelligence

AI committee to debut in Rhode Island Senate with Gu at the helm

By Alexander Castro, Rhode Island Current

A Westerly Democrat who also represents Charlestown will lead a new Rhode Island Senate committee on artificial intelligence and its increasing impact on life in the Ocean State.

Sen. Victoria Gu has been named chair of the new Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio formally appointed the seven committee members Tuesday — although the panel is so new it has yet to be listed on the General Assembly website.

The committee has yet to determine an initial meeting as of Wednesday afternoon, Senate spokesperson Greg Paré confirmed, but is in the process of scheduling the first rendezvous.

Congratulations to Charlestown’s new Town Council

You can do great things, Part 1

By Will Collette

This is the first of a two-part series. Part 2 will run tomorrow night.

For the second straight election, Charlestown voters rejected the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) and voted continued confidence in the leadership from Charlestown Residents United (CRU). This time voters picked an all-CRU slate led by newly sworn in Council President Deb Carney and Vice-President Rippy Serra. For the first time since 2008, there is no one from the CCA on the Town Council.

They held their first business meeting tonight (Dec. 9) of the new term.

The CCA’s traditional power base on the Planning Commission is no longer filled with commissioners who snap “jawohl” to every command from CCA leader and Planning Commissar Ruth Platner. In addition to newly elected CRU-endorsed Glenn Babcock, CCA stalwart Lisa St. Goddard who was just re-elected but now just resigned and will be replaced by the CRU-controlled Town Council.

CRU-endorsed Patricia Stamps is already on the Planning Commission. With the addition of Glenn Babcock and whoever is picked to replace Lisa St. Goddard, the cracks in Platner’s platform of obstructionism are becoming evident.

So Charlestown has a substantially changed power structure led by an all CRU Council. Can we hope to see some action on issues that have long been dismissed by the CCA?

Charlestown’s Town Council has a broad array of powers it can use to make change. It can pass ordinances. It can repeal ordinances. It can issue resolutions. It can direct town staff to make administrative changes. It can make recommendations to our General Assembly representatives for legislation that would help the town.

I’m particularly interested in fair taxation and believe tax reform in town is long-overdue to address these issues:

Property tax relief for volunteer firefighters.

We should not only show them our gratitude but provide incentives for recruitment and retention. This would require General Assembly approval. South Kingstown provides us with a recent example of what to do in legislation that Rep. Teresa Tanzi got passed last year.

Homestead (or Resident) Tax Credit.

First proposed by Charlestown Democrats in 2011 and crushed by the CCA on behalf of its non-resident political donors, a Homestead tax credit would give full-time residents tax relief to make up for the costs we bear to accommodate part-time residents and visitors.

Every summer, our population grows from 8,000 to 30,000. We have to maintain a year-round infrastructure to pay for that – police, roads, trash collection at public locations, strain on water, etc. We endure heavy traffic, poor drivers, increased litter

Most of Rhode Island’s coastal towns (e.g. Newport, North Kingstown, Narragansett) have had such a tax credit program for years. South Kingstown has one that is focused on seniors and is currently working on an expanded Homestead credit. It’s time for Charlestown to step up for those of us who make Charlestown our home.

In 2011, the CCA argued a homestead tax credit would piss off non-resident property owners so much that they either leave or stop using local businesses and services. They might even boycott local charities – as if they were big local givers anyway.

None of these arguments hold water. They're buying up big ticket properties in Charlestown often for DOUBLE the assessed value. A tax hike of a few thousand dollars isn’t going to phase some New York hedge fund manager who just paid $3 million for a beachfront house assessed at $1 million. 

Further, they're not going to mow their own grass, fix their own plumbing and bring their groceries with them from Manhattan. Besides, if these new Charlestown home buyers decide to actually live here, they'd get the Homestead Credit, too.

No more tax breaks for fake fire districts.

The Quonnie Central Beach Fire District's 28 acre rec center, was
assessed at $98,000. This is the photo the Charlestown Tax Assessor
posted in 2014, not the one being used today. 

Charlestown has two wealthy homeowner associations that operate as “fire districts” even though they have no trucks, equipment, fire houses or firefighters. Quonnie resident and CCA President Leo Mainelli’s fire extinguishers don’t count.

Shady Harbor Fire District pays ZERO property tax to Charlestown despite owning six prime pieces of coastal real estate. Their 19.26 acres total includes a private beach where public access is strictly forbidden, a dock, boat launch, three vacant lots on Meyerand Drive and a pumping station for private water, all worth millions. The Fire District pays nothing.

Central Quonnie FD is not tax-exempt, but its property tax assessments are insanely low. Central Quonnie owns 10 prime coastal properties totaling 38 acres with tennis courts, a sports field, private beach docks, boat launches and a beach club as well as a private water system plus five vacant lots on Surfside Ave. 

Doing a spot comparison between similar properties, it appears that non-Quonnie property is assessed at dollar values eight times higher than Central Quonnie property.

These two fake fire districts, better understood as homeowner associations, own almost 60 prime shore acres and pay almost nothing in property tax. Given the locations, these properties could be assessed at as much as $100 million or close to $600,000 in tax underpayments. 

That means all of us Charlestown taxpayers are subsidizing these posh gated neighborhoods. That’s just wrong.

I recommend a Council resolution or directive to our Tax Assessor to tax these properties as if they were owned by any other homeowners’ association.

Tina and Victoria regularly team up to help pass bills

I also suggest the Charlestown Town Council asks our state legislators, especially Rep. Tina Spears and Senator Victoria Gu – both of whom have shown outstanding work in their first terms – to craft legislation to require that any organization bearing the title and holding the privileges of fire district must use most of its resources to actually fight fires.

Ending the fake fire districts’ tax breaks would offset the cost of a firefighter tax credit and a homestead tax credit.

These proposed tax initiatives would be a big step toward much fairer taxation in Charlestown without increasing Charlestown’s overall tax burden.

Tomorrow night, I will run “You can do great things, Part 2” with more ideas how our new town government can improve the lives of Charlestown residents.