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On February 23, 2010, the Central Falls Board of Trustees voted to fire the entire teaching staff and administrative staff at Central Falls High School. The move was made after the District broke off negotiations with the Central Falls Teachers Union. The parties had been meeting at the request of the District to discuss a State requirement to adopt a plan to improve the school. On May 17, after an intense three-month struggle, the Union members ratified an agreement that preserved each teaching position. Prior to the Board’s decision to fire its entire staff, Labor and Management had met three times to discuss the Superintendent’s proposed plan to make changes at the high school. Superintendent Frances Gallo planned to increase the teacher workday without additional compensation and to add additional planning and training time at an hourly rate of pay. The Union and the District were in the middle of a three-year collective bargaining agreement that had been ratified by the parties and formally approved by the Commissioner of Education. Recently-adopted Federal and State guidelines meant to create changes in schools where students perform poorly on standardized tests required the adoption of one of four models to improve the school. The United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, created a plan requiring schools to adopt one of four intervention models to change the school. Two of the four models require the termination of teachers. One of the least punitive reform models, the Transformation model, was supported by the Union and was initially supported by the Central Falls School District. When the Union and the District first met in early February, the District proposed six preconditions to

continue the path on adopting the Transformational model. One of the six preconditions would have allowed the District to terminate an undetermined number of teachers in the spring after an unknown evaluation team came into the District. The Union noted that all teachers had received satisfactory evaluations over the last two years and that terminating any high school teacher would violate the just cause provision of the union contract and the Rhode Island tenure law.

The Union asked to work on a school improvement plan first, and then talk about modifying working conditions later. The District did not want to work out a school reform plan with the Union, nor did the District provide information on budget and programs requested by the Union. The District walked away from the table. Then, the Central Falls Board of Trustees, composed of appointees of the Board of Regents, called a meeting to terminate the teachers. The February 23rd termination meeting was very contentious. It was attended by all Central Falls High School teachers who were not given an opportunity to speak before being fired. The meeting followed a well-attended rally of students and union members in nearby Jenks Park. The local struggle became a national struggle when Education Secretary Duncan and President Obama issued statements of support to the Superintendent. They relied on misinformation. For example, while President Obama criticized Central Falls, he praised a non-union school in Rhode Island which ironically had the worst math test results. Soon, the story was covered throughout the nation, as 89 teachers resisted the take-it-or-leave-it approach to bargaining. Community support for the fired Central Falls teachers was tremendous. Hundreds of members from throughout the labor movement rallied in Jenks Park in Central Falls just prior to the Board meeting. Union members showed support at the Board of Regents meetings, Department of Education meetings, and Board of Trustees meetings in a show of solidarity. Teachers throughout the US and Canada expressed outrage with the District’s decision to terminate the entire faculty. Student support was the most important, as students organized their own Web sites and created a support network to preserve their school community. Despite efforts to create a schism between the members and their union leadership, the faculty of Central Falls High School remained unified and strong. Central Falls Teachers Union President, Jane Sessums, handled hundreds of media requests while maintaining close contact with her members. Attendance at regular union meetings was high. Members organized a number of activities, including a letter-writing party to the Board of Trustees, leafleting the entire City, and organizing parent meetings to strengthen parent – teacher connections. Through community pressure, a supportive student voice, and political pressure from the US Senate delegation, the District agreed to mediate the dispute. Attending the mediation sessions was Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services

mediator Jack Buettner and retired US District Court Judge Ernest Torres. Additional pressure was put upon the District when the Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge, alleging that the District did not bargain in good faith by using mass terminations as a bargaining tactic. The Union also filed for individual termination hearings for each of its 89 members. Finally, the Union filed a lawsuit in US District Court alleging that the District’s actions violated the due process rights of teachers in violation of the US Constitution. After 5 full-day mediation sessions and numerous additional phone and e-mail exchanges, an agreement

was reached. The Union agreed to many of the time elements of the District proposal, while garnering a $3,000 annual stipend for the additional time. The Union also preserved due proccess rights by insisting that all teachers be rehired. The Union also regained a voice in decision-making at the high school with the creation of four joint committees to consider the high school schedule, evaluate teacher training, create a criteria-base hiring system for teacher transfers, and a joint labor-management committee to guide the high school transformation. The CFTU membership overwhelmingly ratified the

agreement. While some were still angered by having to go through such a counterproductive process, all were proud to have stood up for due process rights and their union rights.

Common VOLUME 1, NUMBER 6

GroundJUNE 2010

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Take Sassy Home

See Page 18

RHODE ISLAND

Page 2 Common Ground JUNE 2010

2 Black and White

INDEX

Page 1 Winds of Change in RI From the Publisher: John J. Tassoni, Jr.

Page 2 Working Together to Try to Save Local Sports

Laborers Help Preserve Cranston Sports

Why We Need the Job Development Fund

Page 3 Dereka Crosby’s Success Story

Page 4 Labor Community Invited to Network, Build Relationships at Business Expo

RI PERC Holds Annual Forum

Page 5 May is the Ideal Month for Bird Watching

Page 6 Time to Stop the Hits By George Nee

Rhode Island owes Brown thanks for its building projects By Michael Sabitoni

Page 7 Strengthening OSHA Protects Workers

Page 8 Cheers for Geo-Toursim By Barry Schiller

Helping the Animals of Rhode Island

Page 9 Local Butcher Builds Travel Advisors International

Page 10 An Answer for Addiction

Page 11 Mortgage Fraud and the Foreclosure Crisis

Page 12 Expedite Delivery of Health Reform Benefits

Page 16&17 Directory of Union Services

Page 18 Archambault Calls for Crackdown on Employee Misclassification

Stepping Up for Diabetes

Page 19 The Real Truth About Health Care Reform By John A. Pernorio

John J. Tassoni, Jr. - Publisher

John Houle - Co-Publisher/Editor

Paul V. Palange - Editor

Glenn Moretti - Advertising Manager

Anna Romano - Office Manager

Kerryn Azevedo - Graphic Design

Jen Davey - Web

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Common Ground, Inc.

111 Wayland Avenue

Providence, RI 02906

c. 401.451.1305

f. 401.831.6111

[email protected]

www.commongroundnews.net

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We sponsor low-cost spaying/ neutering clinics,

provide pet adoption services, legal Assistance, investigate neglect and

abuse cases, and advocatefor the protection of animals.

To defend the inalienable rights of both companion

animals and wildlife through education, legal and legislative activism.

Annual Membership Fee: $25

DEFENDERS OF ANIMALS P. O. Box 5634

Weybosset Hill Station

Providence, RI 02903-0634

401-461-1922

www.defendersofanimals.org Fight for defenseless friendsBy Dennis Tabella

There have been many examples throughout

history of famous people standing up for the

defenseless, including human beings and animals. For

example, our sixteenth President, who in the middle

of a Civil War, stopped his horse and carriage to

rescue a baby bird.

“I could not have slept tonight if I had left that

helpless little creature to perish on the ground.”

(reply to friends who chided him for delaying them

by stopping to return a fledgling to its nest.) –

Abraham Lincoln

We know that many not so famous Rhode

Islanders have rescued many domestic animals and

wildlife. These individuals and small organizations

work with little resources, but the resources that

they do possess are multiplied by their motivation,

determination, and perseverance and they have,

indeed, changed the world for cats, dogs, and

wildlife and live the words of Margaret Mead who

said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it

is the only thing that ever has.”

Although it was another time and for another

purpose, the lesson still holds true:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak

out -- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.” Martin

Niemoller (1892-1984) was an ardent

nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who

emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf

Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in

concentration camps.

Many of us in the animal rights movement have

spoken up for those who can’t speak for themselves,

and we believe in the credo: “The smaller the victim,

the bigger the crime.”

We are determined to stand up and defend those

living beings that cannot defend themselves and

believe in what Martin Luther King said: “Never,

never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the

well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s

punishments are small compared to the wounds we

inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

Dennis Tabella is the Director of Defenders of Animals.

I am very fortunate to have spent many years

living and boating on Narragansett Bay. During

those years I have watched the tide roll in and out

twice a day with chronographic precision.

I have seen large yachts lifted and lowered by

those tides with their massive weights rising four to

six feet and then lowered again. I have seen strong

currents carry objects both light and heavy swiftly

away in seconds. I have even witnessed a magnificent

feat of engineering when a massive bridge was

lowered into place by the effects of the moon’s

gravitational pull.

I also have baked in the sweltering August heat

when money couldn’t buy a breeze and I have drifted

many Sunday afternoons watching my sails slap

limply against my mast as I sat on a motionless bay.

The wind is a fickle friend!

Tidal power brings all the positives of wind and

few if any of the negatives.While the wind may or

may not blow on certain days the tide will always

roll in and out twice a day along our coast. Tidal

turbines and other mechanisms will be underwater

and out of sight to coastal property owners and

thus will generate less opposition from this group.

Additionally, there will be no discernable noise

associated with tidal generators and no danger to

birds and water fowl.

Of course, and most importantly, there is

the economic factor to be considered. Which

alternative energy source will cost less? A recent

study conducted

by The Electric

Power Research

Institute

contends

underwater

turbines

powered by the

tidal movement

at three sites, including one in Maine, can produce

electricity at a cost that competes with wind power.

The study concluded that tidal power could

produce electricity for 4.2 to 6.5 cents per kilowatt-

hour. According to the Providence Journal,

Deepwater (the firm proposing the RI wind

turbines) concluded that the starting price for the

energy produced by its turbines would be 24.4 cents

per kilowatt-hour. The current price for power from

conventional sources is 9.2 cents per kilowatt-hour.

So fellow Ocean State residents, what could be

the reason that our leaders are not considering this

appealing and cost effective alternative to the wind

alternative? Could there be some powerful lobbyists

behind the decision or perhaps some “alternative”

tentacle of “Big Oil”? When will our citizens rise

like a spring tide and flood our representatives with

a demand that we may call ourselves the “Ocean

Powered State” in the near future?

Armand DeLuise is a videographer and avid blogger.

Capitalizing on tidal power as an alternative energy source By Armand DeLuise

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When I scheduled a meeting with Mary Riley, President of the AFSCME Local 2879 to interview her about the 10th anniversary of The Scott London/Chris Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund I expected to gather facts about her scholarship fund and to learn more about the London/Riley Memorial Golf Tournament being held on Monday, August 2nd, at the Cranston Country Club. Instead I learned a life lesson about heroes, survivors and the healing effects of giving back after an unconscionable loss. The Scholarship fund was founded in 1989 to honor the lives of Scott London and Chris Riley, “two enthusiastic 2nd graders with an appetite for learning. Following the boys’ deaths from cancer, their mom’s, Mary Riley and Joyce London and families joined to create the Scott London/Chris Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund (www.londonriley.org) to honor their boys and the love they shared for education. This year they proudly celebrate their 10th of giving back. Mary Riley vividly recalls the day her four year old son Chris, a

sweet looking red headed boy with freckles and a toothless smile, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that forms in soft tissue of muscle. She recalls the day Chris complained of pain in his abdomen and the days following when she was told by Chris’s physician that Chris was “gravely ill”. She recalls the numerous medical appointments, the 7-8 surgeries her son endured in three years as well as every kindness that family, friends and the staff at Hasbro Children’s Hospital bestowed upon her during that very difficult time.Mary’s memories are bitter sweet, like the time Chris spent a Halloween in the hospital and a relative brought him rings that squirt water and the fun he had showering the medical staff as they came in his room for daily rounds. She also, recalls the close relationship Chris established with Dr. Frank DeLuca, the now retired head of pediatric surgery, who treated Chris to “Big Alice’s” ice cream. And the day Chris asked Dr. Frank to simply install a zipper in his chest to simplify things for future surgeries. As I spoke with Mary, I saw a

sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about her son and the scholarship foundation she founded to honor his life. I was inspired by the fact that although she suffered a loss she still had strength to give hope to others and was determined to make a difference. When asked about groups that aided with her healing process she acknowledged organizations and support groups that helped along the way. Those groups included The Tomorrow Fund (www.tomorrowfund.org), “a local non-profit that provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families” and Candelighters (www.candelighters.org), a support group “dedicated to alleviating the uncertainty and isolation felt by families facing childhood cancer and the Make a Wish Foundation who granting Chris a puppy he named “Kelly” that comforted him during his final days and the rest of the family for the years that followed. Mary stays positive by being grateful for many things she has including the support of friends and family, the seven years she had with her son, Chris, and the lives he touched in such a short time. She is grateful for the 37 years of marriage she has shared with her husband Tom and her sons, Kevin (31), and John (23), both Providence College Alumni, who have made her extremely proud and who have been her “reason for getting up every morning”. Dr. Edwin N. Forman, MD shared his sentiments about the Memorial Fund saying “I want to express my deep gratitude to the London-Riley Memorial Fund. The stressful, painful and frightening

experience that children with cancer go through, along with their families, is beyond communicating to those who are fortunate enough never to have personally experienced it. The survivors are real heroes, and their ambition to go on with life deserves the greatest support. This memorial fund helps support their dreams of going on to college and on with life. It is a reward greatly deserved.”Laura Hartley agrees with Dr. Forman’s sentiments. Her son Michael was a scholarship winner. He is a cancer survivor and the inspiration for her book entitled “Michael’s Journey”. His road to recovery was been long, however, “he has been cancer free for five years, attends college where he recently made the Dean’s list,” a dream the London-Riley Memorial Fund helped him fulfill.

Donations can be made on-line via Pay Pal at www.londonriley.org, or mailing a check to Mary Riley at 53 Dante Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919. To reserve a spot in the upcoming Golf Tournament call 401-751-5153.

Scott London/Chris Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund celebrates their 10th anniversary of giving back “Joyfully lighting the path of education for others”

by Jennifer Geronaitis

Front Row: Mary Riley , Mr. Cabra, Joyce London, Greggory ChampagneBack Row: Erik Resly, Sean Boyle, Todd Resly, Tom Riley

Mary’s son Chris with a puppy which was given to him by the Make a Wish Foundation. (8/31/75-1/6/1983)


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In her role as Chair of the Emergency Management

Advisory Council, Lt. Governor Roberts brought

together state and local officials and agency heads to

address “Lessons Learned—Flooding of 2010,” on

Tuesday, May 11th. In her many visits to affected

areas around the state, she was impressed by the

resilience of those who were forced to leave their

homes and found themselves at recovery shelters

throughout Rhode Island. She also noted the

effectiveness of multiple agencies working in a

coordinated effort at the Joint FEMA/State Disaster

Recovery Center, planning each step in the recovery

efforts. Major General Robert T. Bray, Adjutant

General of Rhode Island, and Director J. David

Smith, RIEMA Executive Director, gave opening

remarks, inviting panelists to share their experiences

and offer constructive feedback for present and future

recovery efforts.

Lt. Governor Roberts led the first panel on the

municipal perspective with Warwick Mayor Scott

Avedisian, Richmond Town Council President B.

Joseph Reddish III, West Warwick Town Manager

James Thomas and Coventry Town Manager Thomas

Hoover.

Director J. David Smith, RIEMA Executive

Director, led the second panel from the statewide

perspective with representatives from the

Departments of Health, Environmental Management,

and Transportation, as well as the RI State Police and

the RI Association of Emergency Managers.

The third panel, also moderated by the Lt.

Governor, featured representatives from the RI

Chapter of the Red Cross, the RI Broadcasters

Association, the Providence Chamber of Commerce,

the Small Business Development Center and the RI

Community Action Association.

In this rare opportunity, heads of state and local

agencies and organizations across a broad spectrum

of interests came together to share their experiences

and propose solutions to the still-pressing issues of

flood mitigation; the rebuilding of city and town

roads and bridges damaged in the flood; how to

ensure that business and state operations are not

interrupted either during an emergency or as disaster

recovery continues; improving crisis communications;

and how to better coordinate emergency planning

efforts between state and community agencies going

forward.

“Although the long-term recovery efforts are far

from over, a key goal of the council is to protect the

safety of Rhode Island’s citizens by improving the

state’s ability to prepare, respond and recover from

natural and man-made disasters in a coordinated

way. This meeting has served to inform our efforts

going forward as we continue to find ways to improve

upon a collaborative response in the future,” said Lt.

Governor Roberts.

Emergency management meeting highlightssuccesses, identifies challenges

As cleanup, restoration and rebuilding continues

in the wake of the record floods of March 2010,

Lt. Governor Roberts, Chair of the Small Business

Advocacy Council, continues to reach out to the

business community to ensure that businesses and

employees are not left behind by the ongoing federal

disaster relief response. As flood waters receded, one

of the key issues that Lt. Governor Roberts quickly

identified was the need for businesses, particularly

small businesses already impacted by the economic

downturn, to become eligible for direct grant

assistance. Currently, only government-sponsored

loans are available, in many cases involving a time-

consuming application process, especially for those

businesses that may have lost paperwork in the

flooding.

Taking action to protect Rhode Islanders’ jobs,

Roberts made an official request for grant funds to

Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation, also raising

the issue with federal officials who visited the state

in the flood aftermath. “We must do what we can

to preserve Rhode Islanders’ jobs by assisting local

businesses affected by the flood, especially during

Rhode Island’s fragile economic recovery. Bank loans

are not enough,” said the Lt. Governor.

In her visits to other businesses impacted by

the floods, Roberts identified new issues that

will also need to be addressed to prevent more

jobs from being lost in the future. These include

improvements to public works that will reduce the

risk of future floods and prevent businesses from

moving their operations elsewhere; updates to

federal flood plain maps to make sure all businesses

that were recently flooded have access to federal

flood insurance; better communication about

flooding risks and evacuation orders that will

provide businesses more time to react in a crisis; and

more outreach about state-subsidized engineering

and consulting services that can reduce businesses’

vulnerability to future disasters.

In response to many of the concerns she

observed personally, Lt. Governor Roberts

moved quickly to convene a special meeting of

the Emergency Management Advisory Council

(EMAC). Inviting key state and community

stakeholders affected by the flood for a first-of-

its kind meeting, Roberts assembled three panels

comprising mayors and town managers from hardest

hit locations, state agency directors involved in the

response, and private sector leaders from business

and community organizations and associations.

After the floods: preserving Rhode Islanders’ jobs


ARTHUR A. COIA

ALBERT J. LEPORE

GEORGE L. SANTOPIETRO

ARMAND E. SABITONI

JAMES J. LEPORE

ALBERT J. LEPORE JR.

MARIA SCARAMUZZO-CONTE

ALFREDO T. CONTE

SHERI M. LEPORE

JOHN F. CASCIONE

PETER J. COMERFORD

MARK SALES

RANDALL J. LEVESQUE

COURTNEY L. MANCHESTER

LESLIE N. TUCHAPSKY

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401.751.5522

When you leave a job – whether due to layoff or for any reason – you are often faced with a decision about your 401(k) or other retirement plans. The decision is whether to keep your 401(k) funds with your former employer, roll them over to an IRA, or pay the taxes and cash out. Over time, many employees have accumulated substantial balances in these employer plans which are designed for tax-advantaged retirement savings. For this reason, it is wise to understand the implications of each option. Some employers offer the opportunity to maintain your retirement account at the company. On the other hand, by rolling over your funds to an IRA, you can maintain control, manage the funds any way you want, and remain subject to IRA rules alone rather than the limited investment selection and perhaps restrictive distribution policies of your former employer. Note, however, that while you are permitted to take loans from your 401(k) plan, this is not possible in an IRA, and depending on the investments used to fund the IRA, charges and expenses could

be higher or lower than those you would incur inside your 401(k) plan. At your direction, your employer can transfer your distribution directly to another qualified plan or to a rollover IRA. A rollover occurs when you withdraw cash or other assets from one eligible retirement plan and contribute all or part of it within 60 days to another eligible retirement plan. Under this option, you would direct your plan administrator to make a direct and tax-free transfer of funds from your former employer’s plan to a rollover IRA at a financial institution of your choice. That way you maintain the tax-deferred status of your retirement account, consolidate all retirement accounts for easier management, and benefit from increased investment flexibility. When you roll over a retirement plan distribution, you generally don’t have to pay tax on it until later when you take cash withdrawals. By rolling over, your funds have the potential to continue to grow tax-deferred. Job changers should resist the temptation to spend down their retirement savings, whether they are moving to a

new job or plan a hiatus from work. When you fail to roll over, you not only pay tax on the amount you receive, but you may, if you are under age 59 1/2, be subject to an additional 10% penalty on the early distribution you receive. Sound financial planning dictates that you would draw on other funds first, leaving retirement plan spending as a last resort. If you are simply moving your IRA from one institution to another and you do not plan to use the funds, you should consider making an IRA transfer and not a rollover. This is a simple direct transfer from IRA to IRA between financial institutions to better manage and grow your retirement assets.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of William J. Hawkins, III, CRPC® Financial Advisor in Providence, Rhode Island at 401-459-6824. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

To leave, or not to leave your Understanding your retirement plan when youleave employer

By William J. Hawkins, III, CRPC

The primary objective of the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans is to enroll and mobilize retired union members and other senior and community activists into a nationwide grassroots movement advocating a progressive political and social agenda-one that respects work and strengthens families. The long-term goal of the RI ARA is to become the voice for all older Americans. By engaging in important political battles to protect and preserve programs vital to the health and economic security of older Americans, the RI ARA will gain recognition as the country’s leading progressive grassroots senior organization. In pursuit of these values, the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans will: · Build a strong organization of seniors with a viable structure, ample resources and clear objectives - a structure compatible with that of the labor movement and community-based groups at local, state and national levels. · Create programs and membership organizations designed to promote a commitment by retired workers and older persons to the concept of lifelong participation in their unions, and in their community, political and civic organizations. · Encourage all segments of the senior population to act with unity on legislative, political and policy issues of importance to retirees and their families in order to maximize their influence on federal, state and local governments and on private organizations that affect their interests. Benefits available to you and your spouse as members of the RI ARA & RI ARA HealthLink Wellness Program: · Numerous discounts. Log onto www.newenglandsenior.com. · Vision Care Program through Davis Vision, with no premium. · Dental Care Program. Discounts of 30-40% off usual & customary fees, with no premium. · Participation in the HealthLink Wellness Program with no cost to you. · We are awaiting the final announcement of the RI Best Rx program for people that have no prescription coverage. We are hopeful that seniors will be able to participate in the RI Best Rx when they are in the DONUT HOLE on Medicare Part D. For more information about the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans, have your union retiree leader or community based organization leader contact John A. Pernorio at [email protected] or call 401-722-2770.

What does the RI ARA membership mean to you?By John A. Pernorio, President

BUY Union Products. USE Union Services.Use your hard earned money to support hard working union members!

P.O. Box 7613Warwick, RI 02887

(401) 751-7100

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CRANSTON, RI 02920

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At the recent annual conference for the International Technology Education Association, the Technology Education Program at Smithfield High School, was recognized as one of less than 50 programs worldwide to earn the prestigious Program Excellence Award. Sponsored by the International Technology Education Association (ITEA), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Paxton/Patterson, the Program Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to Technology Education classroom teachers on the elementary, middle or high school levels. It is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession and students. Schools from all over the United States and around the world compete for this honor. Each year the Program Excellence winners are recognized at the largest conference for Technology Educators in the world. This year the program at Smithfield High School, was recognized at the first general session of the conference where the award plaques and pins were presented.

Local Smithfield Tech program receives worldwide recognition

Substance Use Disorders, as the professionals call them, are a fascinating and

devious set of illnesses with many names and faces; however, for the purposes of

this article, addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse, chemical dependency, etc. as

well as addict and alcoholic, will all be used interchangeably. While the names,

faces and even the approach to treatment often change, there are some unavoidable

constants.

Initial treatment varies, depending on drug of choice, but the long-term

recovery process is the same. The major symptom: the individual suffering from

the illness denies that he or she has the illness. I am always impressed by the

lengths a patient will go to continue drinking and/or using, or to avoid treatment

altogether. The alcoholic’s rationalization, justification, and minimization are

par for the course for the addiction expert, but can be baffling and frustrating for

friends and family of the addict.

In my experience, the addict/alcoholic knows deep down that there is a

problem, and they just aren’t willing or able to do what is required to get well or to

embark on a lifelong program of recovery. I typically hear “Give me a chance to

do this on my own. If I can’t stop drinking, I promise I’ll go to rehab...” or, “I’ll go

to AA and to an outpatient program...” or, “I’m not going to rehab. Those places

don’t work for people like me...”

Here are the basics: Addiction is an illness that is primary, chronic, progressive,

incurable and potentially fatal, but highly treatable.

Primary - It needs to be dealt with first. Many medical problems and

psychiatric symptoms are directly attributable to or exacerbated by

substance use, for example: high BP, anxiety, depression, pancreatitis, etc.

Chronic - You have it forever and even after a complete detox, you remain

highly susceptible to relapse and a return to old habits.

Progressive – If left untreated it gets worse.

Incurable - Once you’re a pickle, you can’t go back to being a cucumber.

The brain has been altered at the cellular level by the use of chemicals. It

works and looks different forever.

Fatal - Four of my former patients have died in the past four months: one,

sober at 78; and three overdosed unintentionally by mixing and misusing

legal prescription drugs.

Any known disease process follows a well-charted course. Substance Use

Disorders are no different. Those closest to the addict are affected first, followed

by friends, and finally, work or legal problems.

The recovery process also follows a well-charted course. The patient does not

have to “want it” or “hit a bottom.” Most patients I have confronted through an

intervention only go to treatment to avoid terrible consequences. I didn’t go to

treatment because I thought it was a good idea to get sober – I went because I was

threatened with divorce.

I am respectful when dealing with the addict, but I don’t waste a lot of time

trying to reason with an impaired individual. Doing so would compare to doing

psychotherapy with a patient partially under anesthesia while they were being

wheeled to an emergency appendectomy. You can’t talk a drunk individual into

going to rehab. I seek leverage to help me get a person to a place where they can

begin to recover.

The first phase of recovery is medical stabilization. Get the person to a place

where they are guaranteed to abstain from any alcohol or drugs except those

prescribed by an addiction expert. Then and only then can we have a reality-

based conversation with the addict, but abstinence is only the beginning. Diets

don’t work. A thorough and holistic life change is required; the addict needs

to rediscover why they are alive in the first place. In AA this is referred to as a

“spiritual awakening,” and as the last of the critical 12 Steps, it requires a lot of

hard work before reaching the heights of self-actualization.

Treatment works - but not how, why or when most people outside of the

business think it does. Something happens to the patient in the course of a 30-day

residential episode of care that is hard to describe. I believe that many addicts and

alcoholics require residential treatment and aren’t able to go because their insurance

companies won’t pay for it or there aren’t beds available due to long waiting lists.

These are all barriers to entry, which are more often than not, death sentences.

I am proud to work for a company that is in the business of taking down the

financial, logistical as well as the clinical barriers to recovery. Treatment Solutions

Network was created to cut through the red tape so you don’t have to. If you, a

loved one or someone you know needs treatment, don’t be afraid – just do it. Call

your local addiction expert. I am always available and will respond promptly to emails

or phone calls. I can be reached at 401-741-1574, or [email protected].

Reinhard Straub is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Chemical

Dependency Clinical Supervisor and full-time Treatment Consultant with Treatment

Solutions Network. He is a recovering alcoholic and addict who has worked in

numerous levels of care in the field of addiction recovery since 1989, including seven

years with the New York State Medical Society’s Impaired Physician Program, where he

was the lead interventionist, placing hundreds of physicians into treatment.

Battling the illness of substance abuseBy Reinhard Straub


Homeowners Welcome!

School will be out soon so start the summer off right and let the kids explore the great outdoors. Hike Audubon’s Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in search of Bluebirds, have breakfast on the Blackstone River, or enjoy a sunset beach walk with an expert guide. Summer has arrived!

A complete listing of activities and programs are detailed in the Audubon Nature Tours and Programs, a free guide to connecting with the natural world. Available by calling (401) 949-5454 or online at www.asri.org.

June 10, 2010 Home School Science Introduction To Tree ID and Anatomy

South Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge Smithfield, RI10:00 a.m. - Noon

This class covers the basic anatomy and physiology of trees as well as the major features of local species. We will be both indoors and out, so dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes.

Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $8/member child, $12/non-member child; Ages: 7+. Course Number: 114333-362. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

June 12, 2010 Breakfast on the BlackstoneCentral Falls Landing, RI

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.Join Audubon aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer for a morning river cruise exploring the spring beauty of the Blackstone River. Sip coffee and juice and sample baked goodies as we search for wildlife in the marsh and along the river. Bring binoculars. The Explorer is a covered boat and runs rain or shine. Co-sponsored with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council.

Departs from Blackstone Valley Explorer Dock/Central Falls Landing, Madeira Ave., Central Falls; Program Fee: $15/member adult, $8/member child; $20/non-member adult, $10/non-member child; Ages: All. Course Number: 114333-363. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

June 12, 2010 Bluebirds of CaratunkAudubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.Hike the refuge and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Eastern Bluebird. Get out on the trails and learn about their nests, diet and habits, as well as how Audubon manages the property to encourage the species.

Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Program Fee: $8/member adult/child pair, $4/each additional member; $12/non-member adult/child pair, $6/each additional non-member; Ages: 5+. Course Number: 014333-19.To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

June 13, July 3, August 9, 2010 Bird Banding Three Dates Available

Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Join the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and witness bird banding – where experts capture, band, measure, and release songbirds in order to record their movement. Birds will be gently removed from nets set in the shrubby habitats on the grounds. The techniques of identifying, measuring, weighing, and banding will be demonstrated before they are released. The migratory habits and life history of each captured species will also be discussed. Bring a camera and binoculars. Program is limited to 15 participants, so register early.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $5/member child; $11/non-member adult, $6/non-member child. Children under 4 are free; Ages: All. Course Number: 164333-506. To register call (401) 949-5454 ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

June 21, 2010 Solstice Sunset Beach WalkEast Matunuck State Beach, South Kingstown, RI

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.Join Kimball naturalist Bob Kenney for a leisurely sunset exploration of the beach on the summer solstice — the longest day of the year. Enjoy more than an hour of walking and beach combing before the sun goes down at 8:23 PM. This year’s bonus is a three-quarters full moon to light our way after sunset. Meet in front of the pavilion at East Matunuck State Beach.

East Matunuck State Beach, 950 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $10/non-member adult, $5/non-member child; Ages: All. Course Number: 044166-52. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

June 24, 2010 Nature Flicks at Night Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.Take a trip to Audubon for an evening of fascinating nature documentaries on the big screen.

The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies: Nowhere in nature is there a more powerful mix of scientific marvel, awesome beauty, and epic struggle for survival than the Monarch butterfly. Journey into the Monarch’s secret and fascinating world.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Other documentaries will be screened on July 29 and August 26, 2010; 7:00-8:00 pm; Program Free: Free, Donations welcome; Ages: 3+. Course Number: 164333-201.

June 25 & August 27, 2010 Stories in the StarsTwo Dates Available

Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Bring the family and discover the legends of the night sky. Begin inside with a brief introduction to astronomy, learn what stars and constellations are visible this time of year, listen to stories from different cultures about the night sky, and venture outside to find the stars and constellations discussed. Advance registration required.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $10/member adult/child pair; $5/each additional member; $12/non-member adult, $6/non-member child; Ages All. Course Number: 164333-505. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

Summer days bring outdoor adventuresJune Programs and Events for Children and Families

at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island


Compliments of international Union of

operating Engineers

LocAL Union 57Providence, Rhode Island

James J. WhiteBusiness Manager and President

timothy e. QuillenVice President and Bus. Agent

GreGory e. olsonTreasurer and Bus. Agent

A Coalition of 100,000Rhode Island Union

Workers and Retirees

Unions have improvedthe quality of life for all

working people.

Learn more about the labor movement -Watch LaborVision each week on

Cox (Channel 14), Verizon (Channel 33)and Full Channel (Channel 9)

every Tuesday @ 7pm, Thursday @ 8pm,and Saturday @ 5pm.

www.WorkingRI.com

Child Labor Laws • Social SecurityOvertime Pay • Minimum Wage

Health Insurance • Unemployment InsuranceWorkers’ Compensation

Paid Vacations • Pension Plans

Steve Archambault, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, today called on Health Insurance Commissioner Chris Koller to turn down Blue Cross and Tufts Health Plan’s new double-digit rate hike requests. Archambault said, “Instead of moving to saddle hard pressed Rhode Island families and businesses with another double-digit rate hike, Blue Cross and the other Health Insurers should produce significant cost-cuts beginning with a reduction in top Executive salaries. I urge Commissioner Koller to turn them down flat.” Archambault went on to say, “We need a top to bottom review of all Health Insurer expenditures All expenses should receive strict scrutiny.” Archambault pointed to the fact that the CEO of Blue Cross, James E Purcell earned over $900,000 in compensation in 2008 as an example of an expenditure that need to be reexamined, noting that Blue Cross is a non-profit. Blue Cross Administrative expenses are higher than the New England average according to a study conducted by Health Insurance Commissioner Koller’s office.

Blue Cross is proposing for next year an increase of 13.4% for companies with more than 50 employees and an increase of 12.4% for companies with 50 employees or fewer. Tufts is proposing a rate hikes of between 11% and 12%. Blue Cross and Tufts were recently granted rate hikes of nearly 10% for both small and large groups as well as an increase of a little over 6% for direct pay plans, which are purchased by Rhode Islanders who do not receive health insurance from their employer or other group. Archambault has led the fight against rate hikes by Blue Cross and other health insurers repeatedly calling on Commissioner Koller to re-examine the basis of the requests and to give administrative expenses strict scrutiny. Archambault who serves as a Councilman in Smithfield , would bring a broad legal background to the Attorney General’s office. His experience as a police officer, local Prosecutor and defense Attorney gives him a first-hand understanding of all elements of the criminal justice system.

AFSCME Local 2881Representing RIDEM and CRMC

www.local2881.org

Paid for by Working East Providence

Fredrick Foeri, Brian Allen, Brandon Agnew and Denis Daigle are proud East Providence residents.And they have shown this pride by selflessly giving back to their community. As part of the Plumbers& Pipefitters Local 51 Joint Apprenticeship Training program, they volunteered their time and effortrenovating the kitchens and bathrooms at the Kimberly Rock and Glenlyon baseball and softballcomplexes–ensuring our kids better and cleaner facilities while participating in youth sports.

Proud to be Plumbers & Pipefitters. Proud to be Townies.

TOWNIE HEROES

Thank you Fredrick, Brian, Brandon and Denisfor your dedication to the City of East Providence.

This week...

Fredrick Foeri, Business Agent

Brian Allen, Instructor

Brandon Agnew, Apprentice

Denis Daigle, Apprentice

PLUMBERS &PIPEFITTERS

LOCAL 51

Archambault calls on Health Commissioner to turn down rate hikes

News outlets routinely feature stories about unemployment, economic underdevelopment, rising gas prices, traffic jams, truck and car crashes, congestion, the rise of asthma and obesity, and climate change. It may come as a surprise but a robust and growing public transit system is a way out of this list of social maladies. It is a way to grow jobs and the economy and to improve health and mitigate climate change. But for Rhode Islanders to benefit from improved transit and transportation systems, we need to seriously revamp how we fund our transit system and our transportation infrastructure. We fund (locally) our transportation system in two ways. We float general obligation and we rely on the gasoline tax (currently 32.5¢ per gallon). The two largest recipients of gasoline tax proceeds are the R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the R.I. Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). RIDOT receives 21¾¢ per gallon (or about $94 million annually), and RIPTA receives 9¾¢ per gallon (or about $40 million annually). (Proceeds from the gasoline tax are RIPTA’s largest single source of operating revenue.) RIDOT uses its share to maintain roads and bridges — and to service the debt from its bonds. RIPTA uses its share to operate the public’s transit system. Yet we must acknowledge that relying on general obligation bonds to fund transportation and transit is potentially destabilizing, as debt service costs add an increasing burden. Now, the problem with the gasoline tax is that it is an unstable source of revenue: especially long-term as most new cars get better gas mileage. As less gas is bought less revenue accrues to support our transportation infrastructure and to provide for a robust public transit system.

The CTC is proposing to break this logjam by developing a different funding system that can provide RIPTA and RIDOT with some financial security. The bills we are urging passage of today were originally vetted through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on funding transportation. As was also part of the package proposed by the New Public Transit Alliance, the first statewide community coalition to cohere around the transit and transportation issue. Rhode Island Transportation Trust Fund (S-2744, H-7734) would increase the biannual auto registration fees and create a Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax. Together, these measures could raise a projected $67 million annually – $23 million from auto registrations, and $44 million from gross tax receipts. These would be divvyed up among RIDOT (50 percent) for maintenance and repair of roads and bridges; RIPTA (35 percent); and Rhode Island cities and towns (15 percent) for maintenance and repair of local roads and streets and projects like complete streets. One core element that should be attractive to the state is that these revenues can be used to help leverage federal dollars, which are vital to improvements given the state’s share in funding mass transit and transportation. Rhode Island’s FY09-FY12 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes about $292 million in federal funding for RIPTA. Yet, if we don’t secure the local match for these federal grants, many opportunities for future investment and growth and jobs may be lost. These are solid, proven and wise suggestions for a new funding system. Studies show that every dollar that tax payers invest in public transit generates six dollars or more in economic benefits.

Given that many of the emerging issues and extreme challenges faced by the Rhode Islanders from obesity, through air quality and climate change, congestion, energy independence, andeconomic revitalization, are linked to transportation, the way we fund our transportation system is in critical need of reform.

James Celenza is the director of the RI Committee on Occupational Safety and Health and was a founder of the New Public Transit Alliance. Currently he is part of the Coalition for Transportation.


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Southern New Englands Neighborhood Union

David P. FlemingPresident

James P. Riley Secretary-Treasurer

United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 328278 Silver Spring Street • Providence, RI 02904-2593 • 401.861.0300 • 800.624.7776 • www.ufcw328.org

Testimony in support of RI Transportation Trust FundBy James Celenza

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Frank A. Ciccone Pasquale Zompa Norma M. Sousa Business Manager President Vice President

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What is not to like is that maintaining and improving our transportation

infrastructure costs money. To get the jobs in construction (an industry with

40% unemployment noted in the May issue of COMMON GROUND)

and in operating transit vehicles costs money. To enhance our environment

with investments in bicycle infrastructure, our bus system (Transit 2020

has proposed some exciting ways to do this) and commuter rail expansion

requires money. Fixing our roads and bridges – only 42% of our pavement is

rated good or excellent, and we have 163 “deficient” bridges – but their repair

and maintenance costs money. Indeed, just fixing the Route 6/10 bridges in

Olneyville and the I-95 Providence Viaduct may cost about $450 million, but

no funding for that has been identified. Few want to pay.

We finance transportation mostly from the gas tax, which as a fixed cents per

gallon rate not only doesn’t go up with inflation, it actually declines as folks get

more efficient cars or drive less due to the recession. Thus the annual revenue

per penny of gas tax has declined from a peak of over $4.8 million in 2006

to only about $4.2 million this year. We’re getting by, more or less, by using

“stimulus” funds and by borrowing, which now even includes “GARVEE” bonds

that borrow from future Federal highway funds that will have to be paid back

at a rate of about $48 million/year, thus not available for current transportation

needs. Both are one-shot fixes. RIDOT maintenance is financed from our gas

tax, but a growing percentage of it, now about 50%, must be used to pay back

previous borrowing instead. Clearly this is not sustainable.

Bus passengers have seen their fares, soon to be $2, increase from $1.25 or

less in just 7 years so they have already stepped up to help. Little new help can

be expected from Washington as the federal gas tax, 18.4 cents, has not been

raised since 1993 and they too are running out of money. So our Governor

convened a “Blue Ribbon Commission” (BRC), all high officials, business

interests, highway users (no labor, environmental, or transit types included) and

they identified a need for about $3 billion in additional transportation funding

over the next decade. They proposed a menu of user fees and taxes, including

increases in the gas tax and registration fees, tolls, a petroleum product tax, and

perhaps a vehicle-miles-travelled fee. But neither the Governor nor the Assembly

has acted on this for obvious political reasons, so the report sits on the shelf.

But there are costs in not doing anything. Statewide Planning says the

state will “sink” as we can’t compete with I-95 bridges closed to trucks, with a

declining transit system just as we enter a carbon-limited world with less and

less cheap oil, with deteriorated local roads and most local projects deferred.

The BRC warns inaction will lead to worse roads, transit service cuts, deferred

maintenance and higher future costs. They highlighted that the current funding

program “is inadequate to properly maintain and operate our infrastructure and

unsustainable moving forward.”

As RIDOT has been known to improperly inspect concrete, and wasted

funds on p-r to brand the “Iway” and on a $100,000+ secretary, there is a

need for good government and taxpayer groups to keep watch to help ensure

reasonable efficiency. But those who see the necessity of transportation

investments must not be cowed by noisy anti-tax zealotry and take leadership in

persuading Rhode Islanders that we really do have to pay for our roads, bridges,

and transit systems, or else we really will sink.

Barry Schiller is a public member of the State Planning Council’s Transportation Advisory Committee.

Transportation funding: jobs, mobility, environmentBy Barry Schiller


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271

OFFICERS

DONATO A. BIANCO, JR. Secret ary-Treasurer

RAYMOND C. COIA President

MICHAEL A. CAPALDI Recording Secret ary

DOMENIC A. IZZI Vice President

JOSEPH A. VITULLO, JR. Execut ive Board Mem ber

MANUEL M. MARQUES, JR. Execut ive Board Mem ber

410 South Main Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903

T: 401-331-9682 F: 401-861-1480

MICHAEL F. SABITONI Business Manager

CONSTRUCTION & GENERAL LABORERS’

LOCAL UNION 271


UA Local Union 51 Plumbers • Pipefitters • Refrigeration

thomas a. handfield

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robert Walker timothy l. byrne frederick foeri William d. mello

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Rhode Island State Association of Fire FightersAffiliated with the AFL-CIO

PAUL C. REEDPresident

JOSEPH A. ANDRIOLEVice President

PAUL A. DOUGHTYSecretary Treasurer

MARCEL E. FONTENAULT, JR.Exec. Bd. Chairman

1ST DISTRICT V.P. John Silva

2ND DISTRICT V.P. Steve Rodrigues

3RD DISTRICT V.P. Michael Stevens

ROBERT K. NEILL, JR.Staff Representative

PAUL L. VALLETTA, JR.Legislative Agent

REBECCA D. FISHERLegislative Agent

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PROVIDENCE FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 799INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS

Paul A. Doughty, President

Philip F. Fiore, Vice President

Scott G. Mello, Secretary

John F. Woodard, Treasurer

Executive Board Representatives

Christopher J. JannittoJoseph P. Moreino

Hans RamsdenWayne C. OliveiraZachariah Kenyon

Anthony Toro

92 Printery Street Paul A. DoughtyProvidence, RI 02904 401-569-4444 401-272-7999 (O)401-274-7999 (F) local799.com

In a time-honored tradition, Paul MacDonald, Presi-dent of the Providence Central Federated Labor Coun-cil, AFL-CIO, announced that the Federation’s Political Education Committee has established an endorsement process for candidates seeking elected office in 2010. President MacDonald further stated that it is the duty of the Council to promote candidates who understand the concerns of Rhode Island’s working families and who are committed to addressing those concerns while respecting the collecting bargaining process.

The Central Labor Council considers endorse-ments for candidates seeking the office of Mayor, Town Administrator, Councilperson and School Committee Member for RI municipalities, with the exception of Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Lincoln and Aquidneck Island. Interested candidates may request the Central Labor Council’s endorsement in writing addressed to Paul MacDonald, President Providence Central Labor Council at 51 Cowell Road, Harrisville, RI 02830 no later than July15, 2010.

Upon receipt of the candidates’ request, a question-naire on issues relating to working families will be forwarded. The candidate will be asked to return the questionnaire prior to a personal interview conducted by the Political Education Committee. Each candi-date will be interviewed by a committee of delegates representing the service industry, the building trades, teachers, firefighters and other municipal employees.

Central Labor Council considering endorsements quests

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105 Railroad Avenue, Johnston, Rhode Island401-232-1660 l 800-427-1660

To See How This Stimulus Package Works Visitwww.hillviewautobody.com

Stimulus Package H Reduce your Deductible

H Free Recondition with Every Repair

H Complete Service Check

You have the legal right to choose your repair facility in RI, so don’t let the insurance industry direct you to their preferred shop.










Anthony Toro











Anthony Toro











Anthony Toro



ADVERTISE IN COMMON GROUND call 831-6123 or visit commongroundnews.net

STM ERAE ST

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Mark Montecalvo-(401) 692 0304

Mark @Montees.net

LOCAL 12NBUY LOCAL

Made in the USA available

-EMBROIDERY SCREEN PRINTING-SIGNS PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

-SCREEN WORKSI

UNION LOGO WEAR &U NIFORMS

5.11 TacticalPromote Morale Fund Raising

Athletics eventsOrganizational

I I

Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals

Marcia B. Reback President

356 Smith Street (401) 273-9800 Providence, RI 02908-3761 FAX (401) 331-8815 [email protected] www.rifthp.org

Joseph M. O’Connor Vice President

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

E mail [email protected] 202/624-8145Cell 202/297-2945

· Zoning, Planning & Land Use · Real Estate Law · Business & Corporate Law · Wills, Estates & Trusts

· Personal Injury & General Litigation· Landlord - Tenant & Evictions· Criminal Law· DUI - Breathalyzer Refusals

Maselli LawAssociates, P.C.

1417 Douglas Avenue, 2nd Floor, North Providence, RI 02904

Phone: 401-490-0455 l Fax: 401-490-045 l www.masellilaw.com

A UNION REPRESENTING PROUD UNION PROFESSIONALS SINCE 1918

685 Warren Avenue 401.438-5450East Providence, RI 02914 www.ifpte400.org

LOCAL 400International Federation of

Professional and Technical Engineers

A progressive labor union representing more than80,000 men and women in professional, technical,

administrative and associated occupations.

Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value

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DISTRICT 4 - LOCAL 12431

172 Longfellow SreetProvidence, Rhode Island 02907p. 401.527.6792 f. 401.284.3677

Joseph A. MontanaroPresident

Gary GlittoneVice President

Steven KirbyFinancial Secretary

Gordon HuffmanTreasurer

Mark BoyajianRecording Secretary

Looking for some good news for a change?

View past issues at www.commongroundnews.net.Rhode Island's only newspaper for unions, and about unions.

TM

LOCAL 12NBUY LOCAL

BUSINESS TRAVELCRUISES, HOTELS, AIRLINE RESERVATIONS

WEDDING DESTINATION TRAVELCUSTOMIzED TOURS

Call us to see if we can do better for you. (401) 725-1234 (800) 633-2985

[email protected] • www.taitrips.com

Moe, Jeannine and Dan Rondeau, Local 328, retired

204 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island

Travel AdvisorsInternational

Full Service Travel Agency

(401) 946-9940/946-3710Fax: (401) 946-5060

E-mail: [email protected]

PAUL R. ENOSVice President

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF

BRICKLAYERS & ALLIEDCRAFTWORKERS

LOCAL # 3 R.I.

POST OFFICE PLAZA150 MIDWAY ROAD

SUITE 153CRANSTON, RI 02920-5743


DIRECTORY OF UNION SERVICES

Bristol Branch390 Metacom AvenueBristol, RI 02809(401) 253-1313

URI BranchURI Memorial UnionKingston, RI 02881(401) 789-0253

Dexter Credit Unionwww.dextercu.org1 Village Plaza WayNorth Scituate, RI 02857(401) 934-7600

934 Dexter StreetCentral Falls, RI 02863(401) 724-6200

Woodlawn FederalCredit Union744 Main StreetPawtucket, RI 02860(401) 728-8300

The Carpenters’ Unionrepresents:

First Trade Union Bankwww.ftubhb.com14 Jefferson Park RoadWarwick, RI 028881-800-242-0272

FUNCTION FACILITIES

Biltmore Hotel11 Dorrance StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 455-3027Scott Connery, Director ofCatering

Brown University45 Prospect St.Providence, RI 02912(401) 863-1075Cynthia Schwartz, Director ofUniversity Event

Bryant University1150 Douglas PikeSmithfield, RI 02917(401) 232-6921Sheila Guay, Director of Events

BARBERS &HAIRDRESSERS

Some barbers and hairdressersare organized by UFCW Local328. For a list of union barbershops and hairdressers, pleasecontact Local 328 at(401) 861-0300 orwww.ufcw328.org

BUILDING TRADES

For home and businessconstruction, repairs, oradditions please contact oneof the following unions for areputable contractor in yourarea. For general questions orhelp please call Build RI at(401) 553-2100 orwww.BuildRI.org

BoilermakersLocal No. 29(617) 328-8400

BricklayersLocal No.1(401) 946-9940

CarpentersLocal No. 94(401) 467-7070

Elevator ConstructorsLocal No. 39(401) 423-2293

GlaziersLocal No. 1333(401) 781-4736

Heat and Frost InsulatorsLocal No. 6(617) 436-4666

International Brotherhoodof Electrical WorkersLocal No. 99(401) 946-9900

International Unionof Operating EngineersLocal No. 57(401) 421-6678

Iron Workers LocalLocal No. 37(401) 438-1111

LaborersLocal No. 271(401) 331-9682

Painters & Allied TradesDistrict Council 11(401) 467-7010

Plaster & MasonsLocal No. 40(401) 943-1185

Plumbers & PipefittersLocal No. 51(401) 943-3033

Rhode Island Building Trades(401) 438-1111

Roofers & WaterproofersLocal No. 33(781) 341-9192

Sheet Metal WorkersLocal No. 17(401) 831-7150

Sprinkler FittersLocal No. 676(860) 666-4447

TeamstersLocal No. 251(401) 434-0454

BUS SERVICES

RIPTARhode Island Public TransitAuthority265 Melrose StreetProvidence, RI 02907(401) 781-9400www.ripta.com

Peter Pan Bus LinesCorporate HeadquartersP.O. Box 1776Springfield, MA 01102-17761-800-237-8747 ext. 1209www.peterpanbus.com

CHILD CAREPROVIDERS

To arrange on-site child carecoverage for your meetings orconferences, or to locate aDCYF-licensed home-basedchild care provider in yourneighborhood or near yourworkplace, contact the unionof home-based child careproviders, District 1199 SEIU,at (401) 457-5099 orwww. seiu1199ne.org

DELIVERY SERVICES

United Parcel ServiceThe Teamsters Local 251represent Rhode Island’s UPSworkers. For the outlet nearestyou, or to schedule a homepick up, please contact UPS atwww.ups.com or1-800-PICK-UPS.

United States Postal ServiceYour local post office isrepresented by the NationalAssociation of Letter Carriers,the American Postal WorkersUnion and the National PostalMail Handlers Union (a divisionof the Laborers Union.)www.usps.com

FINANCIALINSTITUTIONS

Credit union employees areorganized by UFCW Local328.

Rhode Island Credit Unionwww.ricreditunion.orgProvidence Branch160 Francis StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 751-7440

Cranston Branch570 Pontiac AvenueCranston, RI 02910(401) 941-8770

Community Collegeof Rhode IslandKnight Campus, WarwickFlanagan Campus, LincolnListon Campus, ProvidenceNewport CampusCCRI Downcity(401) 825-2015Edna Mattson

Dunkin Donuts Center1 LaSalle SquareProvidence, RI 02903(401) 331-0700 ext. 150Robert Sturm, Event Manager

Newport Grand150 Admiral Kalbfus RoadNewport, RI 02840(401) 849-5000 ext. 157David Rollin

Providence College549 River AvenueProvidence, RI 02918(401) 865-1000 ext. 2070Victoria Mocshu

Rhode Island College600 Mount Pleasant AvenueProvidence, RI 02908(401)456-8022Kathy Sasso

RI Convention Center1 Sabin StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401)-458-6002Antonia Anthony, Director ofEvent Services

Roger Williams Park Casino1000 Elmwood AvenueProvidence, RI 02905(401) 785-9450 ext. 240Lisa Gonzales, Casino EventPlanner

Roger Williams University1 Old Ferry RoadBristol, RI 02809(401) 253-1040 ext. 3793Allison Chase-Padula

Twin River1600 Louisquisset PikeLincoln, RI 02865(401) 723-3200 ext. 8497Alana Barts

University of Rhode IslandKingston, Alton Jones CampusProvidence Campus(401) 874-2214Sherry DavisThe Westin Providence1 Exchange StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 598-8245Alan Swerdolff, Director ofSales and Marketing

HOSPITALS

UNAP members work atthe following locations:

• Fatima Hospital• Greater RI Visiting

Nurse Service• Homestead Group• Kent Hospital• Landmark Medical Center• Memorial Hospital• Rehabilitation Hospital

of RI• Rhode Island Hospital• RI Community Living &

Support Services• RI Dept of Human Services• RI Veterans’ Home• URI, CCRI, RIC Health

Services• Westerly Hospital

(Professional & Technical)• Westerly Hospital (Service

& Maintenance)• Zambarano Hospital

SEIU 1199 members work atthe following locations:

• Butler Hospital• Women & Infants

Hospital

JANITORIAL SERVICES

Some janitorial companies areorganized by SEIU Local 615.For a list of unionized janitorialservices, contact the Local 615office at (401) 521-6150 orvisit their website atwww.seiu615.org.

NEWSPAPERS

Providence Journalwww.projo.comSubscribe(401) 277-7600

Pawtucket Timeswww.pawtuckettimes.comSubscribe(401) 722-4000

Woonsocket Callwww.woonsocketcall.comSubscribe(401) 767-8522

NURSING HOMES


• Bannister House• Charlesgate Nursing

Center• Country Gardens

Skilled Nursing• Crawford Skilled Nursing• Greenville Skilled

Nursing• Hopkins Manor• Pawtucket Skilled Nursing• Parkview Associates• United Methodist Health

Care Center

PRINTERS, BANNERS& SIGNS

American Speedy Printing635 Arnold RoadCoventry, RI 02816Phone: (401) 823-0090Fax: (401) 823-0092

B Sign Graphics27 Libera StreetCranston, RI 02920Phone: (401) 943-6941Fax: (401) 943-2287

Cogens, Inc.1 Virginia AvenueProvidence, RI 02905Phone: (401) 421-4436Fax: (401) 331-9032

Crownmark109 Fletcher AvenueCranston, RI 02920Phone: (401) 943-1112Fax: (401) 943-1113

Dorrance Engraving635 Prospect StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Phone: (401) 725-0504Fax: (401) 725-0504

East Coast Screen Printing22 Partridge StreetProvidence, RI 02908Phone: (401) 272-1166Fax: (401) 272-1167

Federal Signs135 Dean StreetProvidence, RI 02903Phone: (401) 421-3400Fax: (401) 351-2233

Financial Innovations1 Weingeroff Blvd.Cranston, RI 02919Phone: (401) 467-3170Fax: (401) 467-3570

JB Foley Printing1469 Broad StreetProvidence, RI 02905Phone: (401) 467-3616Fax: (401) 467-8309

Lamar Outdoor Advertising360 Warren AvenueE. Providence, RI 02914Phone: (401) 421-4504,Fax: (401) 421-4757

Mandeville Sign Co.676 George Wash. Hwy.Lincoln, RI 02865Phone: (401) 334-9100Fax: (401) 334-7799

Regine Printing Co., Inc.208 Laurel Hill AvenueProvidence, RI 02909Phone: (401) 943-3404Fax (401) 944-1228

Screen Works, LLC62 South Main StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895Phone: (401) 692-0304

Sheahan Printing Corp.1 Front StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895Phone: (401) 273-7272Fax: (401) 769-9206

Sign Lite, Inc.6 Corporate DriveN. Haven, CT 06473Phone: 1-800-544-0854Fax: (203) 234-8344

The Sign ShoppeP.O. Box 2296Westerly, RI 02891Phone: (401) 364-7442

Tarvis Graphics Inc.21 Sabin StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Phone: (401) 726-5530Fax: (401) 723-6420

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All public school employees areorganized by the Rhode IslandFederation of Teachers andHealth Professionals or theNational Education Associationof Rhode Island.

The following Charter Schoolsare also unionized:

• Laborers Charter School• Textron Charter School• Times 2 Charter School

RECYCLING AND TRASHREMOVAL SERVICES

Waste Management ofRhode Island(800) 972-4545

SUPERMARKETS

Supermarket employees at thestores listed below are membersof UFCW Local 328 or UFCWLocal 791.

Super Stop and Shop• Bristol• Coventry• Cumberland• Johnston• Lincoln• Middletown• Narragansett• Newport• North Kingstown• North Providence• North Smithfield• Pawtucket• Providence• Richmond• Smithfield• Warwick• Westerly

Shaw’s Supermarket• Barrington• Garden City• Cranston• East Providence• Riverside• Johnston• Middletown• North Providence• Pawtucket• Providence• Wakefield• Warwick

• Lakewood• Westerly• Woonsocket

Eastside Marketplace• Providence

Brigidos IGA• Pascoag• North Scituate

Grand Union Family Markets• South Yarmouth• Provincetown• Buzzards Bay• South Yarmouth

C-Town Supermarket• Pawtucket

TELEPHONE, INTERNET& CABLE SERVICES

AT&T Wireless1 (800) 897-7046www.wireless.att.comUnion members recieve specialdiscounts on AT&T wirelessservice plans. For moreinfomation to towww.unionplus.org

VerizonVerizon, whose employees aremembers of the InternationalBrotherhood of ElectricalWorkers Local 2323, canprovide for all of your homeand office internet, telephoneand cable TV needs throughVerizon’s new FiOS (FiberOptic Service) network.

Simply call 1-888-Get FiOSor 1-888-591-6076 orcontact IBEW 2323 at(401) 946-2323.

R.I. Litho Printing, Inc.1395 Atwood AvenueJohnston, RI 02919Phone: (401) 275-0760Fax: (401) 464-6002


DIRECTORY OF UNION SERVICES

Bristol Branch390 Metacom AvenueBristol, RI 02809(401) 253-1313

URI BranchURI Memorial UnionKingston, RI 02881(401) 789-0253

Dexter Credit Unionwww.dextercu.org1 Village Plaza WayNorth Scituate, RI 02857(401) 934-7600

934 Dexter StreetCentral Falls, RI 02863(401) 724-6200

Woodlawn FederalCredit Union744 Main StreetPawtucket, RI 02860(401) 728-8300

The Carpenters’ Unionrepresents:

First Trade Union Bankwww.ftubhb.com14 Jefferson Park RoadWarwick, RI 028881-800-242-0272

FUNCTION FACILITIES

Biltmore Hotel11 Dorrance StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 455-3027Scott Connery, Director ofCatering

Brown University45 Prospect St.Providence, RI 02912(401) 863-1075Cynthia Schwartz, Director ofUniversity Event

Bryant University1150 Douglas PikeSmithfield, RI 02917(401) 232-6921Sheila Guay, Director of Events

BARBERS &HAIRDRESSERS

Some barbers and hairdressersare organized by UFCW Local328. For a list of union barbershops and hairdressers, pleasecontact Local 328 at(401) 861-0300 orwww.ufcw328.org

BUILDING TRADES

For home and businessconstruction, repairs, oradditions please contact oneof the following unions for areputable contractor in yourarea. For general questions orhelp please call Build RI at(401) 553-2100 orwww.BuildRI.org

BoilermakersLocal No. 29(617) 328-8400

BricklayersLocal No.1(401) 946-9940

CarpentersLocal No. 94(401) 467-7070

Elevator ConstructorsLocal No. 39(401) 423-2293

GlaziersLocal No. 1333(401) 781-4736

Heat and Frost InsulatorsLocal No. 6(617) 436-4666

International Brotherhoodof Electrical WorkersLocal No. 99(401) 946-9900

International Unionof Operating EngineersLocal No. 57(401) 421-6678

Iron Workers LocalLocal No. 37(401) 438-1111

LaborersLocal No. 271(401) 331-9682

Painters & Allied TradesDistrict Council 11(401) 467-7010

Plaster & MasonsLocal No. 40(401) 943-1185

Plumbers & PipefittersLocal No. 51(401) 943-3033

Rhode Island Building Trades(401) 438-1111

Roofers & WaterproofersLocal No. 33(781) 341-9192

Sheet Metal WorkersLocal No. 17(401) 831-7150

Sprinkler FittersLocal No. 676(860) 666-4447

TeamstersLocal No. 251(401) 434-0454

BUS SERVICES

RIPTARhode Island Public TransitAuthority265 Melrose StreetProvidence, RI 02907(401) 781-9400www.ripta.com

Peter Pan Bus LinesCorporate HeadquartersP.O. Box 1776Springfield, MA 01102-17761-800-237-8747 ext. 1209www.peterpanbus.com

CHILD CAREPROVIDERS

To arrange on-site child carecoverage for your meetings orconferences, or to locate aDCYF-licensed home-basedchild care provider in yourneighborhood or near yourworkplace, contact the unionof home-based child careproviders, District 1199 SEIU,at (401) 457-5099 orwww. seiu1199ne.org

DELIVERY SERVICES

United Parcel ServiceThe Teamsters Local 251represent Rhode Island’s UPSworkers. For the outlet nearestyou, or to schedule a homepick up, please contact UPS atwww.ups.com or1-800-PICK-UPS.

United States Postal ServiceYour local post office isrepresented by the NationalAssociation of Letter Carriers,the American Postal WorkersUnion and the National PostalMail Handlers Union (a divisionof the Laborers Union.)www.usps.com

FINANCIALINSTITUTIONS

Credit union employees areorganized by UFCW Local328.

Rhode Island Credit Unionwww.ricreditunion.orgProvidence Branch160 Francis StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 751-7440

Cranston Branch570 Pontiac AvenueCranston, RI 02910(401) 941-8770

Community Collegeof Rhode IslandKnight Campus, WarwickFlanagan Campus, LincolnListon Campus, ProvidenceNewport CampusCCRI Downcity(401) 825-2015Edna Mattson

Dunkin Donuts Center1 LaSalle SquareProvidence, RI 02903(401) 331-0700 ext. 150Robert Sturm, Event Manager

Newport Grand150 Admiral Kalbfus RoadNewport, RI 02840(401) 849-5000 ext. 157David Rollin

Providence College549 River AvenueProvidence, RI 02918(401) 865-1000 ext. 2070Victoria Mocshu

Rhode Island College600 Mount Pleasant AvenueProvidence, RI 02908(401)456-8022Kathy Sasso

RI Convention Center1 Sabin StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401)-458-6002Antonia Anthony, Director ofEvent Services

Roger Williams Park Casino1000 Elmwood AvenueProvidence, RI 02905(401) 785-9450 ext. 240Lisa Gonzales, Casino EventPlanner

Roger Williams University1 Old Ferry RoadBristol, RI 02809(401) 253-1040 ext. 3793Allison Chase-Padula

Twin River1600 Louisquisset PikeLincoln, RI 02865(401) 723-3200 ext. 8497Alana Barts

University of Rhode IslandKingston, Alton Jones CampusProvidence Campus(401) 874-2214Sherry DavisThe Westin Providence1 Exchange StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 598-8245Alan Swerdolff, Director ofSales and Marketing

HOSPITALS

UNAP members work atthe following locations:

• Fatima Hospital• Greater RI Visiting

Nurse Service• Homestead Group• Kent Hospital• Landmark Medical Center• Memorial Hospital• Rehabilitation Hospital

of RI• Rhode Island Hospital• RI Community Living &

Support Services• RI Dept of Human Services• RI Veterans’ Home• URI, CCRI, RIC Health

Services• Westerly Hospital

(Professional & Technical)• Westerly Hospital (Service

& Maintenance)• Zambarano Hospital


• Butler Hospital• Women & Infants

Hospital

JANITORIAL SERVICES

Some janitorial companies areorganized by SEIU Local 615.For a list of unionized janitorialservices, contact the Local 615office at (401) 521-6150 orvisit their website atwww.seiu615.org.

NEWSPAPERS

Providence Journalwww.projo.comSubscribe(401) 277-7600

Pawtucket Timeswww.pawtuckettimes.comSubscribe(401) 722-4000

Woonsocket Callwww.woonsocketcall.comSubscribe(401) 767-8522

NURSING HOMES


• Bannister House• Charlesgate Nursing

Center• Country Gardens

Skilled Nursing• Crawford Skilled Nursing• Greenville Skilled

Nursing• Hopkins Manor• Pawtucket Skilled Nursing• Parkview Associates• United Methodist Health

Care Center

PRINTERS, BANNERS& SIGNS

American Speedy Printing635 Arnold RoadCoventry, RI 02816Phone: (401) 823-0090Fax: (401) 823-0092

B Sign Graphics27 Libera StreetCranston, RI 02920Phone: (401) 943-6941Fax: (401) 943-2287

Cogens, Inc.1 Virginia AvenueProvidence, RI 02905Phone: (401) 421-4436Fax: (401) 331-9032

Crownmark109 Fletcher AvenueCranston, RI 02920Phone: (401) 943-1112Fax: (401) 943-1113

Dorrance Engraving635 Prospect StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Phone: (401) 725-0504Fax: (401) 725-0504

East Coast Screen Printing22 Partridge StreetProvidence, RI 02908Phone: (401) 272-1166Fax: (401) 272-1167

Federal Signs135 Dean StreetProvidence, RI 02903Phone: (401) 421-3400Fax: (401) 351-2233

Financial Innovations1 Weingeroff Blvd.Cranston, RI 02919Phone: (401) 467-3170Fax: (401) 467-3570

JB Foley Printing1469 Broad StreetProvidence, RI 02905Phone: (401) 467-3616Fax: (401) 467-8309

Lamar Outdoor Advertising360 Warren AvenueE. Providence, RI 02914Phone: (401) 421-4504,Fax: (401) 421-4757

Mandeville Sign Co.676 George Wash. Hwy.Lincoln, RI 02865Phone: (401) 334-9100Fax: (401) 334-7799

Regine Printing Co., Inc.208 Laurel Hill AvenueProvidence, RI 02909Phone: (401) 943-3404Fax (401) 944-1228

Screen Works, LLC62 South Main StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895Phone: (401) 692-0304

Sheahan Printing Corp.1 Front StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895Phone: (401) 273-7272Fax: (401) 769-9206

Sign Lite, Inc.6 Corporate DriveN. Haven, CT 06473Phone: 1-800-544-0854Fax: (203) 234-8344

The Sign ShoppeP.O. Box 2296Westerly, RI 02891Phone: (401) 364-7442

Tarvis Graphics Inc.21 Sabin StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Phone: (401) 726-5530Fax: (401) 723-6420

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All public school employees areorganized by the Rhode IslandFederation of Teachers andHealth Professionals or theNational Education Associationof Rhode Island.

The following Charter Schoolsare also unionized:

• Laborers Charter School• Textron Charter School• Times 2 Charter School

RECYCLING AND TRASHREMOVAL SERVICES

Waste Management ofRhode Island(800) 972-4545

SUPERMARKETS

Supermarket employees at thestores listed below are membersof UFCW Local 328 or UFCWLocal 791.

Super Stop and Shop• Bristol• Coventry• Cumberland• Johnston• Lincoln• Middletown• Narragansett• Newport• North Kingstown• North Providence• North Smithfield• Pawtucket• Providence• Richmond• Smithfield• Warwick• Westerly

Shaw’s Supermarket• Barrington• Garden City• Cranston• East Providence• Riverside• Johnston• Middletown• North Providence• Pawtucket• Providence• Wakefield• Warwick

• Lakewood• Westerly• Woonsocket

Eastside Marketplace• Providence

Brigidos IGA• Pascoag• North Scituate

Grand Union Family Markets• South Yarmouth• Provincetown• Buzzards Bay• South Yarmouth

C-Town Supermarket• Pawtucket

TELEPHONE, INTERNET& CABLE SERVICES

AT&T Wireless1 (800) 897-7046www.wireless.att.comUnion members recieve specialdiscounts on AT&T wirelessservice plans. For moreinfomation to towww.unionplus.org

VerizonVerizon, whose employees aremembers of the InternationalBrotherhood of ElectricalWorkers Local 2323, canprovide for all of your homeand office internet, telephoneand cable TV needs throughVerizon’s new FiOS (FiberOptic Service) network.

Simply call 1-888-Get FiOSor 1-888-591-6076 orcontact IBEW 2323 at(401) 946-2323.

R.I. Litho Printing, Inc.1395 Atwood AvenueJohnston, RI 02919Phone: (401) 275-0760Fax: (401) 464-6002



(401) 751-7100

Don’t Miss




working families.

TUESDAY 7 P.M.

THURSDAY 8 P.M.

SATURDAY 5 P.M.

COX CHANNEL 14




(401) 751-7100

Don’t Miss




working families.

TUESDAY 7 P.M.

THURSDAY 8 P.M.

SATURDAY 5 P.M.

COX CHANNEL 14


Affiliated with the INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

121 BRIGHTRIDGE AVENUE, EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND 02914www.teamsterslocal251.org

EXECUTIVE BOARD BUSINESS AGENTS Joseph J. Bairos Brian Carroll Secretary-Treasurer Principal Executive Officer Kevin Reddy Kevin Reddy Steven Labrie President Joseph Boyajian James Croce Vice President Douglas Teoli David Demuth Daniel Manocchio Recording Secretary Asst. Business Agents Dennis Mello Linda Russolino Trustee Susan Folan Trustee Janet O’Grady Trustee


Best of Luck and Continued Success from the Drivers, Maintenance and

Supervisory Personnel ofATU Local 618 & 618A

in Providence & Newport

Stephen S. Farrell thomaS Cute Kevin m. millea

President – Business Agent Vice President Secretary-Treasurer

ExECUTivE BoArDBob Davis • Bob Doyle • Paul Harrington • Jim Murphy

Frank Plutzner • Peter Ritchie • Vincent Rowan

SChooL BUS DiviSioNS

WarWiCK-JameStoWn

Sherri Cirelli • Laurie Paul • Mary Tarbox

JohnSton

Dennis Jarvis • John D’Alo • Wendy LaCombe

ER Card is an electronic personal health record (ePHR) service

providing individuals, doctors and other caregivers with anytime,

anywhere access to personal medical information in a secure and

confidential manner. With the ER Card, medical professionals

have instant access by web, phone or fax to:

401-822-1181www.er-card.com

• current medications

• allergies

• chronic conditions

• primary care physician

• physical or verbal limitations

• emergency contacts

• advance directives

• and more

keychain accessory braceletcredit card size

Who knows

your medical

information in

an emergency?

Christopher M. Rawson John M. Harnett Warren R. WolfAram R. Schefrin

THE LAW FIRM OFLovettSchefrinHarnett

The Leader in Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation for 30 Years

Medical Malpractice and personal injury claiMs

155 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island

863-8800www.lshlaw.com

Sassyis a Plott Hound/American Staff mix and is spayed, microchipped, and has all her shots up to date. We are looking for a home without cats or other dogs. We are looking for someone with experience handling a companion animal. She is around 55 pounds and enjoys going for walks and a comfortable dog bed. This is a very special adoption, and special accommodations and considerations can be made, including dog walking, free boarding, and free annual shots and check up. Sassy has been in special training classes offered by Dynamic Dog Training in RI. If you are interested, please call Defenders of Animals at 401-461-1922.

STEPHEN ROYPOWER EQUIPMENT

SNOWBLOWERS

CHAINSAWS

LAWN MOWERS

RIDING TRACTORS

LEAF BLOWERS

LINE TRIMMERS

SALES AND SERvICE. PICk uP & DELIvERy AvAILABLE.

146 Putnam Pike, Johnston401-231-8210

[email protected]

www.stephenroypower.com

We have beautiful apartments ready for you to move-in. These apartments are affordable and best of all they have heat, hot water and some electric included. If you have a small

pet (less than 20 lbs.), no problem, they can also move-in at no extra cost to you.

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“There is a whole new world of brutality out there for children to worry about,” said Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. “Cyberthreats, cyberbullying, sexting are real and are speading, and children targeting other children is becoming more and more prevalent. It’s an issue that must be addressed.” According to a survey conducted a few years ago, 43 percent of U.S. teens have experienced some form of cyberbullying. Another survey reported that 42 percent of children in grades 4 to 8 have been bullied while online and another 35 percent had been threatened online. Cyberbullying involves the use of various forms of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. It may be simple, such as continuing to email someone who has said they want to further contact, or it can include threats, sexual remarks or posting false statements as fact intended to humiliate someone. As more and more of this online harassment leads to serious and even deadly incidents – such as the case of the nine students in Massachusetts accused of bullying a girl so horrifically that it led

to her suicide – more and more states are trying to crack down with cyberbullying laws. The suicide of a 13-year-old Missouri girl, the victim of an Internet hoax, led that state to toughen its laws on the matter, upgrading cyber-harassment from a misdemeanor to a Class D felony. New Jersey, in 2007, amended its laws dealing with bullying to include electronic communications and gives additional powers to school systems to enforce bullying related punishment for actions that may not take place on school grounds. Arkansas, that same year, passed a law to give school administrators more freedom to punish those individuals who sought to harass their fellow students. A year earlier, Idaho lawmakers passed a law to allow school officials to suspend students if they bullied or harassed other students using a telephone or computer. “This is not a game and it’s not funny, and individuals who take part in this kind of harassment need to know there are serious consequences for their actions,” said Senator Tassoni, who has worked for several years to strengthen the state’s cyberbullying laws. “Rhode Island was progressive a number of years ago in adopting legislation dealing with

cyberstalking, but times keep changing and our laws must continue to keep up with the times. What is going on right now is unacceptable and potentially destructive.” Senator Tassoni has introduced legislation, 2010-S 2871, to create a special Senate commission to study the problem of cyberthreats, cyberbullying, bullying and sexting and to make recommendations for legislation to address the issues. The nine-member panel, which would report back to the Senate by next March, would include a member of the Senate, a representative of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the superintendents of the Smithfield, Scituate and Cranston schools, a school teacher from a public high school, a teacher from a

private high school, a member of a school committee and the Chief Judge of the Rhode Island Family Court. “The goal of forming the commission is to start a dialogue,” said Senator Tassoni. “Repeatedly making threats or posting humiliating information about another child online is unacceptable and online harassment can spill over into other kinds of harassment, with deadly consequences. I think this commission has the potential to be influential in developing suggestions to increase tolerance and promote understanding among our young people.” The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Constitutional and Regulatory Issues.

Tassoni proposes commission to study cyberbullying

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Wind farms for Rhode Island By Frank Caprio, General Treasurer

Wind

energy is a

pivotal step

for Rhode

Island’s

economic

future that

maximizes the

labor resources of the state and puts an

unharnessed natural resource to good

use. The prospect of creating jobs while

working to achieve energy independence

is a home-run for Rhode Islanders. RI

has strong and consistent coastal winds

which makes the state an ideal candidate

for wind power. America needs to be a

leader in renewable energy, and Rhode

Island has the opportunity to be a

powerhouse of the green economy in the

northeast.

Deepwater Wind seeks to build a

two-stage offshore wind project. The

initial stage is an 8-turbine commercial

demonstration wind farm off the

shores of Block Island that will allow

the island to connect to the mainland

grid for the first time, improving the

island’s access to energy and reducing

the cost to islanders. For this first stage

demonstration project alone, 35 to 50

local jobs will be created, with 6 full

time positions expected for the life

of the turbines. The people of Block

Island want this – the New Shoreham

Town Council voted unanimously in

support, and the Block Island Residents

Association, representing 850 full-time

residents, also endorsed the project.

The second stage of the Deepwater

Wind project is to build 110 turbines in

the Rhode Island Sound, more than 20

miles from the mainland, connecting to

the grid with enough energy to power

110,000 homes.

The greater opportunity here is

not only to be the first in the nation to

create a commercial offshore wind farm,

but to lay the groundwork for RI to

be the hub of the regional wind energy

industry. The Rhode Island Sound

project can create 1,500 to 2,500 jobs.

Once we establish Rhode Island as the

regional center for green energy, we will

then be in a position to attract even

more green manufacturing jobs. This is

exactly the sort of opportunity Rhode

Island needs.

Rhode Island has everything the

wind industry needs. We have a strategic

location on the east coast. We have

ample road, rail, air, and sea access to

the eastern seaboard. We have a talented

workforce. And we have Quonset Point,

a commercially dredged port with the

real estate needed to host this new

industry.

Yet despite having a signed contract

with National Grid to buy the electricity,

the Deepwater Wind proposal is

currently in limbo, lacking the approval

of the Public Utilities Commission.

Without an approved contract,

Deepwater cannot secure the private

funding needed to move forward. The

Block Island stage is expected to bring

in over $200 million of private-sector

funding and the 110-turbine second

stage is expecting more than $2 billion.

This is a valuable outside investment in

our economic future.

Last month, the General Assembly

revived the proposal with a bill that

would allow the wind project to bypass

the PUC. Under the bill, the agreement

between Deepwater Wind and National

Grid will require an “open book”

approach to the costs of development.

I applaud this commitment to

transparency and integrity. Instead

of the PUC overseeing the project,

the responsibility of oversight will be

shared between 4 state entities with the

objective of achieving a more long-term

approach to the review process. The

PUC is a ratepayer watchdog. It is not

set up to consider economic potential

and long-term interstate competition.

Oversight is important, but it should

not inhibit growth. We need to make

sure our approval process isn’t making

Rhode Island anticompetitive.

Rhode Island is in the middle

of a race to win the wind industry.

Developers in other states, such as

Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey,

Delaware and North Carolina, are

moving fast to pioneer offshore wind

projects of their own. Cape Wind in

Massachusetts has already secured

federal approval to build a utility-

scale farm in the Nantucket Sound.

Deepwater Wind needs time to prepare

Quonset Point and get the Block Island

project moving. Opportunities like this

do not come to Rhode Island often.

The entrepreneur George Lane

once said: “If you don’t make things

happen then things will happen to

you.” Unfortunately, things have been

happening to Rhode Island for too

long. Wind energy presents a great

opportunity for Rhode Island. The time

to seize that opportunity is now.

OPINIONEye On Rhode Island

JUNE 2010

Cutting red tape to create jobs By Ralph Mollis, Secretary of State

Starting a business in Rhode Island is going to get easier. By the end of this year, people dreaming of opening their own business may be able to complete all of the paperwork state agencies require through an on-line master application that will

dramatically cut red tape. In these tough economic times, we must be focused on creating jobs and getting the economy moving again. Our “Quick Start” initiative will not only make it easier for entrepreneurs to do business in Rhode Island, it will help change the perception that our state is not business friendly. To give you an idea of what business owners face, there are 307 different forms just on the state level. Quick Start will enable entrepreneurs to enter their contact and business information in their computer just once no matter how many forms state agencies require them to submit in order to start a business. The system will even identify all the forms that are necessary to open their specific type of business. Once they have the data, they can use it to populate every form that the state requires for your particular business. No longer will they have to write their contact and business information on 10 or 20 or even 30 different forms. That is a giant leap forward for Rhode Island. Just ask the new owner of Gregg’s restaurants. Just days before Bob Bacon was scheduled to buy the restaurants, the closing was almost derailed by the unexpected absence of

See MOLLIS continued on next page

Everyone has a role in rebuilding RI’s economy By Elizabeth H. Roberts, Lt. Governor

Our economy has only just begun a tenuous recovery from a debilitating three-year recession. Many businesses and residents are still struggling to make up for significant losses from historic flooding in March. Our state is still losing more

jobs than we create, and our small business community continues to bear the brunt of the economic downturn. In my travels across the state, Rhode Islanders express to me their concerns and ask what they can do, as individuals, to help make a difference. My answer is a simple one: make a conscious effort to support locally owned Rhode Island businesses. Last year I launched a new initiative called “Buy Local RI” to highlight local independent businesses, encourage consumers to buy local, and to raise awareness about the real and immediate positive economic impacts that choosing to buy local can have. Earlier this year as part of the Buy Local RI initiative, legislation was introduced at my request to require the state purchasing officer to select a local Rhode Island company when all other things in a bid are equal and the choice comes down to a Rhode Island company or an out of state vendor. In other words, “hire local” as well. Economic studies have found that, on average, 68 cents of every $1 spent at a locally owned business stays in the community. That is 50% more than the same dollar spent elsewhere. Local businesses do more for the local economy because they purchase more goods locally, hire more local workers and spend or invest more of their profits close to home. Even a 10% shift in consumer choices has the power to grow local economic output by twenty-percent, generate millions of dollars in

new economic activity and create hundreds of new jobs. Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to visit Main Streets and retail districts across Rhode Island, and what I have found is that Rhode Island’s local independent businesses offer a stunning variety of cost-competitive and top-quality products and services. Not only do these businesses offer friendly and personalized service, they also form the economic and social backbone of our cities, towns, villages and neighborhoods. Last August, www.buylocalri.org was launched. The Web site offers a free listing that local independent businesses and consumers can use to search for a local independent business that carries the product or service that they are looking for. I urge everyone to use this free resource to find a local independent business when in need of a product or service. If there is a local business that is not yet listed, please ask the owner to sign up on www.buylocalri.org. It would be naïve to think that Buy Local RI by itself can solve all the issues facing our small businesses. As Chair of the Small Business Advocacy Council, I pay close attention to the challenges facing Rhode Island’s small businesses: taxes and fees, time-consuming and non-standardized regulatory requirements, the rising cost of health insurance, and inadequate access to capital. However, while we work to fix the problems we have, I also firmly believe that we need simple proactive economic development initiatives like Buy Local RI that can have an immediate positive economic impact. This summer season, I encourage every Rhode Islander to visit www.buylocalri.org and to shift 10% of their spending to locally-owned independent businesses. Acting together we can make a difference and provide a spark to our own economy by making our community dollars make good community sense.

Eye on RI Common Ground JUNE 2010

Eye on RI 2 Black and White

one form that needed to be filed with a state agency. My office helped him survive that scare, but Bob hasn’t forgotten how close he came to having the deal fall apart over one piece of paper.

A lot of thought has gone into designing a

system that will work right out of the gate. We

invested time in listening to entrepreneurs and

talking with state agencies about their work. By

January, we had a solid design. Soon, we were

demonstrating our “Quick Start” initiative to

state economic development officials, chamber of

commerce executives, business leaders and elected

officials.

Speaker of the House Gordon Fox, Senate

President Theresa Paiva Weed and Governor

Carcieri were quick to sign on. The Small Business

Administration and Rhode Island Economic

Development Corporation are supportive. Chamber

leaders like it. And Quick Start took another giant

step forward when the Senate Small Business Task

Force, chaired by Sen. Erin Lynch, endorsed the

proposal.

Our work is not done, however. Quick Start

will still require the cooperation of state agencies. As

part of developing the system, we will ask them to

take a fresh look at their forms with an eye toward

shortening, consolidating or eliminating them.

But they will not have to re-tool their IT systems

in order to allow their customers to use the master

application.

Quick Start will work with all the various

computer systems in state government. Quick

Start is on the fast track. Work will flow into state

agencies as entrepreneurs create businesses with

renewed enthusiasm. Future phases could even

add a master application for municipalities or an

on-line renewal system for existing businesses. Keep

your eye on our progress and see the jobs begin to

appear.

Through his Business Services Division,

Secretary of State Ralph Mollis has helped more

than 22,000 companies get started in Rhode Island

since taking office in 2007.

MOLLIS continuedTime to crackdown on employee misclassificationBy Steve Archambault, candidate for Attorney General

Employee

misclassification – the

widespread practice of

companies paying regular

employees as independent

contractors – is costing

our state millions of

dollars in tax revenues,

leaving workers without

basic protections, and putting employers who comply

with the law at a competitive disadvantage. It is time to

address this problem head on.

The Special Joint Commission to Study the

Underground Economy and Employee Misclassification,

co-chaired by Senator Maselli and Representative

Corvese, estimates that paying people as independent

contractors who should be employees is costing Rhode

Island as much as $50 million annually in unpaid

income tax, unemployment insurance, temporary

disability insurance and workers compensation

premiums. Studies indicate that independent contractors

do not report about 30% of their income. This is

revenue that we can not afford to lose, especially given

the budget difficulties our state faces.

Generally speaking, a person is an independent

contractor when they control their own work. When

an employer controls where, when and how a person

performs their work, they should be paid and classified

as an employee.

Companies pay people as independent contractors,

in part, to avoid paying unemployment insurance,

workers’ compensation and temporary disability

insurance. This leaves too many workers without a

safety net and that is even more problematic given the

severe economic recession that has squeezed so many

Rhode Island families. As we face the worst economic

downturn since the Great Depression, it is essential that

we restore basic protections to all workers.

Further, employee misclassification puts businesses

that comply with the law at a competitive disadvantage.

It is significantly more expensive to pay people as regular

employees than as independent contractors. As a result

our failure to crackdown on employee misclassification

hurts the business owners and entrepreneurs who are

doing right by their employees.

According to the Joint Commission, current

barriers to enforcement include unclear and varying

definitions of “employee” and “independent contractor”

and an absence of a coordinated approach between the

various agencies that have responsibilities in this area.

In order to provide a clear standard for enforcement

actions, we must create a single uniform statutory

definition of independent contractor with a three point

test along the lines recommended by the Commission.

The three point test includes that the person has control

over their own work and either the service is performed

outside the usual course of business or the person is

engaged in an independently established trade that is

of the same nature as the service performed. One clear

definition will limit confusion and provide a solid

foundation for aggressive enforcement actions. We also

need enhanced penalties for companies that continue

to misclassify employees. It is important to demonstrate

that we mean business.

As Attorney General, I will work closely and

cooperatively with the appropriate state agencies to

bring about more effective enforcement. It is time to get

this important job done.

Steve Archambault is a Democratic candidate for

Attorney General.

Financial empowerment vital to strengthening RI’s economyBy Gina Raimondo, candidate for RI General Treasurer Saving our pennies for

a rainy day is an old

adage that has a striking

double meaning right

now in Rhode Island.

Our rainy day is here,

as we battle economic

recession and struggle

to rebuild after the

devastating March

floods.

Unfortunately, for so many of our neighbors

saving pennies has slipped to the bottom of the

priority list, whether out of perceived necessity or

simply a lack of understanding of how to grow their

resources – whatever those resources might be. The

proliferation of credit products – many unclear and

risky – has helped some conclude that credit is easy

and saving is not necessary.

A new survey just released by the National

Foundation for Credit Counseling indicates that 3 in

10 survey participants – more than 68 million people

– have no savings and 28 percent admit to not

paying all of their bills on time. The foreclosure crisis

has hit too many people who took out mortgages

they didn’t understand and definitely couldn’t afford.

In the wake of the financial crisis, we’ve heard

a lot about the need to protect people from risky

financial products. For example, the proposed

consumer protection agency for financial services,

currently working its way through Congress, could

play an important and necessary role in that

endeavor. But there’s another, equally important need

that is often overlooked – empowering our citizens

with the knowledge and tools to make the best and

most sound financial choices for them and their

families.

April is Financial Literacy Month, a national

effort dedicated to increasing knowledge and

establishing healthy financial habits for all

Americans. Here in Rhode Island, we should

consider a year-round focus on financial literacy

which will help many take control of their money

and make it work for them.

The state should consider launching a robust,

statewide financial empowerment initiative that

brings together local non-profits, businesses and

government entities to ensure that all Rhode

Islanders have access to financial education with

real-world applications. This initiative would connect

individuals with free local workshops on financial

topics such as college planning, home buying, small

business start-up and retirement planning. Programs

on money management and financial responsibility

for all ages, from teens to retirees, would offer

real tools, knowledge and solutions to help every

citizen protect, manage and grow his or her personal

financial resources.

This program would also connect the state’s

most vulnerable citizens with additional tools. For

example, about 25,000 Rhode Islanders who are

eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit

do not apply for it. With the average Earned Income

Tax Credit claim per household at more than

$1,600, according to the R.I. Community Action

Association, our government must ensure that those

who could benefit most from this program are aware

that it exists and are assisted in applying for these

funds.

Money management through quality banking

should be another important area of focus. Rhode

Island has the highest percentage of households

without basic banking accounts in New England.

Increasing the supply of starter account products that

work for low-income Rhode Islanders – and making

sure that those citizens understand and have access

to those services – will help managing the family

finances simple and safe for Rhode Island families.

Education is the cornerstone of a healthy

financial life. Fortunately, creating a network of

financial education and assistance opportunities

for all Rhode Islanders is a standard we can meet. I

believe that developing an easy, accessible financial

literacy program will build an individual’s confidence

to save for college, open a business, buy a home or

prepare for retirement. It is essential to our state’s

growth that families understand it is within their

power to change their financial lives in a tangible

way.

Together, we can strengthen the economic

foundations of our state, support all citizens in

becoming financially savvy, and help make Rhode

Island an economic leader once again.

Gina Raimondo is a Democratic candidate for

General Treasurer. A native Rhode Islander, she is a

general partner at Point Judith Capital, a venture

capital firm she co-founded in 2002. Raimondo serves

as vice chair of the Board of Directors of Crossroads RI

and is a trustee at Women and Infants Hospital.

JUNE 2010 Common Ground Eye on RI

Eye on RI 3 Black and White

Confessions of a problem activistBy Maureen Martin, Secretary Treasurer, RI AFL-CIO

At the Institute for Labor Studies and

Research’s annual dinner recently I received the

distinguished Dante Mollo Labor Community

Service Award. I was thrilled to be getting

recognized by the United Way and that my work

with the RI Labor Union Kettle Day program was

especially cited.

For the past thirteen years, hundreds of labor

union members and leaders participated in the

Labor Union Kettle Day by standing the Salvation

Army Christmas kettles at locations all around

Rhode Island. Special mention was given to the Teamsters Local 271, and their

kettle organizer Dave Demuth who manages to corral enough volunteers to work

at a dozen locations each year.

But I have a problem. Not that I was recognized with such a prestigious

award or for being referred to as a life-long union and community activist.

My problem is that I am a problem activist. I became aware of my addiction

to activism a very long time ago. I thought I had resolved my issues of over-

activism. And although I never shared this with anyone before, I even penned

my thoughts many years ago, thinking that that it would help me put my

problem behind me. But now I have this lovely plaque staring at me from its

perch on my desk, mocking me and my dirty little secret, evidence of a problem

I can no longer deny.

I have decided to share my story with you. I know I am still a problem

activist, but I know I’m not alone. I know there are a lot of you out there who

share my pain. As so, I thought it’s time to share this with you, my fellow union

activists, in hope that you will recognize yourself and perhaps you will step

forward and call me to say “ I am a problem activist, too. Which Salvation Army

Kettle location do you need me to be at?”

It started out innocently enough. I just stopped by at a union meeting after

work one night. There was talk of starting an organizing committee. I raised my

hand to volunteer, “to relax” I told myself.

Inevitably, of course, there were more meetings. After a while meetings

weren’t enough so I started attending rallies. After the rallies wore off, I began

signing up for picket lines. I even parachuted onto the White House lawn one

day.

At work, they started to notice the change in me. I know now that I was

in denial. I started to meet and confer over every issue. I had the urge to build

coalitions everywhere I went. I talked constantly about doing job actions.

Things weren’t going so well at home either. My children were horrified.

“Other parents just go shopping at the grocery store, they would say to me, I

always had to bring my Boycott California Grapes sign.”

The neighbors called their children in when I drove up. They knew it wasn’t

safe on the street anymore. Every child was a potential victim if they got in my

way. I often drove around in a blind frenzy of leafleting.

I tried to keep myself under control. I thought “I won’t attend any rallies

during the week. Walking a couple of picket lines on the weekend should be

OK!” I was sure it was normal, just to loosen up.

Then my parents came over to talk to me one day. My dad was in tears.

“I knew we should have warned you, dear, it’s in the genes, your mom was a

problem activist too. We were just trying to protect you.”

The news should have been devastating to me. But with my disease full

blown, I was relieved to be able to blame it all on my parents. They had set me

up for this.

They knew there was this potential problem, and yet they had allowed me to

watch public television. They had seen me get outraged every night during the

news. They knew how I felt about Kathy Lee and the child labor scandal. They

saw how I cried during the air traffic controllers strike.

Sometimes in the mornings, my mouth would be so dry. I knew I had sung

one too many verses of Solidarity Forever. But I convinced myself that I was just

catching a cold. I thought I had every one fooled.

Then one day my union president talked to me. She said she was organizing

an AA chapter in the local. Did I want to be involved? My life flashed in front of

me. I knew this was going to be my last chance.

It was like an angel had touched me. I’m proud to say today that I am a

recovering activist. I haven’t missed an Activists Anonymous meeting in years.

I have even recruited dozens of others into our group. And I convinced them all

to boycott the Saturday night meetings.

I was a little worried when we all signed the petition last night. We were

protesting the store bought cookies at the meeting. But someone said, “We’re

right where we ought to be, so I decided I was just intellectualizing too much.”

Last week we filed a group grievance. We even planned a sit-in around the

issue. I wasn’t too concerned about that either. I know I need to talk the talk

until I can walk the walk. It will come to me in good time.

I have my family, my job and my union. It doesn’t get much better than

that.

Note: I wrote this confession about fifteen years ago and had convinced myself that I was cured. But receiving the Danny Mollo award has dragged me back into the world of reality and forced me to see that I have been in full-blown denial for years. I will be working on the rest of my story and hopefully will be able to come to terms with this issue once and for all. Meanwhile, for Kettle locations, I can be reached at [email protected].

Building a better tax systemBy Brian Hull, President, RI Future

In mid-May, there have been important hearings going on in the House Finance Committee. Testimony was given on key legislation that is of utmost importance to the state’s progressive community. On Tuesday, there were hearings on H7846: combined corporate reporting, H7136: business tax credit/exemption bill that would stiffen reporting requirements for businesses receiving credits and H7727: improving the reporting of information having to do with tax credits, inducements, etc. On Wednesday, there were hearings on several bills either rolling back,

freezing, or repealing the alternative flat tax (H7077, H7134, H7137, H7149, H7308), and H7824: 3% surtax on income above $500,000. All these bills are only important because of the way the state currently calculates personal and corporate income tax. Interestingly, though, there seems to be growing consensus that the way the state taxes doesn’t make much sense. Rhode Island relies on an assortment of obscure special tax incentives and corporate subsidies that all emerged because someone at some point convinced lawmakers that X business, Y industry, or Z person were all entitled to a special deal that no one else can get. During a House Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, May 19, there was consensus about the need to reduce the 9.9% top marginal rate because it places Rhode Island at a “competitive disadvantage” in tax rankings with neighboring and regional states. No one actually pays that rate in personal income tax anyway, so we may as well do away with it if there’s a more rational way to raise the revenue needed to fund government. Luckily there is a better way, and it seems like lawmakers are beginning to understand it as well. Specifically, House and Senate leadership are working toward restructuring the entire personal income tax system, something I’ve been hoping would happen for quite some time. While I agree wholeheartedly that the state needs to rethink the way it taxes, the most critical component is the elimination of ALL the special deals that simply transfer the tax burden onto someone else but do nothing to help the economy. Doing any sort of tax restructuring will surely create winners and losers, but most can understand that the state needs to move away from a system that gives special deals to small groups of businessmen and taxpayers. Rather, lawmakers need to look at what works, what doesn’t work, and what’s best for the economy as a whole – not what’s best for certain people. In an effort to add a Progressive voice to the debate, and come up with a tax system that Progressives could be happy with, let’s look at some data and do some math... The FY2011 proposed budget by the Governor relies on $927.7 million in personal income tax revenue, so that shall be my baseline. Recently, I requested a Statistics of Income report based on the 2008 tax data (the most recent available data). I chose income brackets that closely reflected the ones currently used for the 2009 returns, rather than what’s included in the standard reports so that I could develop a better personal income tax structure. I then took the totals for adjusted gross income for each tax bracket, and used the below marginal tax rates to come up with some numbers. Using the below income brackets with the following marginal tax rates, the state can bring in a little over $997 million in personal income tax revenue (about $70 million more in revenue than the FY 2011 budget projection). • Under $15,000 = 1.5% • $15,000-$32,000 = 2.5% • $32,000-$78,000 = 4.0% • $78,000-$167,000 = 5.5% • $167,000-$350,000 = 6.0% • Over $350,000 = 6.5% Compared with the current income brackets and marginal rates, everyone gets a tax rate reduction! The current rates are as follows: • Under $33,950 = 3.75% • $33,950-$82,250 = 7.0% • $82,250-$171,550 = 7.75% • $171,550-$372,950 = 9.0% • Over $372,950 = 9.9% But wait, there’s more… the $997 million in personal income tax revenue doesn’t even include non-resident tax payers, so the actual revenue that will come into the state would greatly exceed $1 billion, allowing the state to preserve local aid to cities and town, funding for education, and critically important social services. The secret lies in all the special tax incentives the state gives out to wealthy tax payers and special interest groups that most Rhode Island families will never see any benefit from. If we scrap all those special deals and treat everyone the same, the vast majority of people will benefit, our tax system will be more rational, our tax ranking would greatly benefit, and we’ll raise more money. Limitations: I took the total number of returns filed and treated everyone equally. There is an advantage to doing this, although many tax returns are filed jointly. My data does not reflect that and the above revenue projection could vary depending on how people file. The basic point of this exercise, however, was to show that the state CAN raise more money from personal income tax, while simultaneously REDUCING everyone’s tax rate (hard to believe I know). In about 3 hours, I came up with a simple tax structure that raises an additional $70 million in personal income tax revenue (based on the FY 2011 projection), AND gives almost everyone a reduction in their personal income tax rate. Now it’s up to lawmakers to implement these changes and hold the interests of average Rhode Islanders above the interests of those that pay big bucks to State House lobbyists to make sure they don’t have to pay their taxes. Brian Hull is the owner and editor of the progressive news blog Rhode Island’s Future (www.rifuture.org). He can be reached at [email protected].

Eye on RI Common Ground JUNE 2010

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It seems to me that the unions have unfairly become a scapegoat of the ill-informed. I want to share with these people another perspective, one that is quite personal. First, let me put my cards on the table. My wife is a teacher, my mother is a teacher, my company

has helped unions, and we put out this newspaper. We also represent many small businesses, which is the majority of our business. But, the reality is that I would not be able to represent these small businesses if it were not for my union affiliation. If it were not for my mother’s teacher’s salary, which was fought for by her union, I never would have attended college. She and my father, who was a working man, sacrificed so they could pay for me to attend Boston College. And if it were not for my wife’s teacher’s salary, and the family health insurance, I would have struggled to survive during the Great Recession. The fact that my health insurance is paid for

allows me to pay for the health insurance of three of my employees. I feel it is something that all full-time employees should have. I have been told by other business owners that I am crazy, and that businesses my size do not pay full single health insurance benefits. Call me crazy to make sure the people who work hard for me every day know that they do not have to worry about their health coverage. To me, I think it makes good business sense. The fact is that unions touch many of us. We would not have a 5-day work week, paid holidays, and time off. We have seen what happens when big business runs amuck; do we really think that by weakening unions that big business will swoop to our rescue. Look at Wall Street and the Gulf Coast to see how well removing checks and balances has worked out. I am not saying that we should not look into reforming our institutions. In fact, I think we need to look into reform throughout our Great Society.

But, we cannot do it on the backs of the people who built this country – the teachers, the nurses, the builders, the laborers, the electricians – the workers. We need to start at the top, and maybe the “trickle-down” theory can benefit all of us instead of the select few at the top. Let us take a step back, and put the anger aside. This country is great and so is our state. We are the home of the Industrial Revolution, a place defined by our slogan, “Hope.” I’m not naïve to think that we all can easily put aside our stringent beliefs, but perhaps we can start by taking the animosity out of the conversation. This “lively experiment” of our state needs a jolt. We can start on common ground and build again from there.

Let’s take the anger out of the conversationBy John Houle, President, JH Communications

It has been more

than 18 months since

the financial sector

collapsed, exposing

rampant Wall Street

abuses, sending jobs

into freefall and

forcing a massive and

unpopular taxpayer

bailout.

All told, the Great

Recession has cost Rhode Island 34,900 jobs.

That’s a lot of Rhode Island families’ lives turned

upside down.

Nationwide, the Wall Street debacle tore an 11

million jobs hole in our economy.

But unbelievably, after $700 billion in taxpayer

bailout dollars, the big banks are back to business

as usual. They are still not lending in their

communities, and credit remains tight. They are

fighting new taxes on financial speculation and

excessive bonuses, even after handing out $145

billion in 2009 executive pay and bonuses. And they

are pulling out all the stops to resist new financial

rules that are so clearly necessary.

At the same time, the 150 largest banks in the

U.S have hired a lobbying group to launch an

image-improvement campaign – to build trust in the

financial industry.

We have a better idea. The big Wall Street banks

should begin to earn trust – not through a public-

relations campaign but by changing their behavior

in two important ways: (1) resuming lending to

help credit-starved communities create jobs, and

(2) embracing a small tax to curb destabilizing

short-term speculation and pay for the jobs they

destroyed. A small tax of about half a penny for

every dollar on financial transactions such as stock,

option and derivative trades would restore balance

in the investment world, and it would raise $175

billion to $350 billion a year to invest in American

jobs. Major investors such as Warren Buffett have

supported the concept of such a tax to reorient the

economy toward long-term investments.

And then, following Ronald Reagan’s famous

advice (about foreign affairs), we should “Trust,

but verify,” by reforming the rules for Wall Street,

including creation of an independent consumer

agency that will crack down on abuses by big banks

and their CEOs and credit-card companies to

protect working families and small businesses.

We need jobs in Rhode Island. These proposals

would raise the money to invest in the jobs of the

future from the big banks that created the current

economic crisis and make sure their actions can

never bring on financial disaster again.

That’s why the AFL-CIO and our community

partners are making three demands of the big Wall

Street banks:

• Pay your fair share to restore the jobs you

destroyed.

• Stop fighting financial reform.

• Start lending in your communities.

People in Rhode Island who did nothing wrong

and want to work have paid for the misdeeds of the

big banks with their jobs, homes and retirement

savings. Now it’s time for our government to hold

Wall Street accountable and make them pay to

create the good jobs they destroyed.

Richard Trumka is president of the national AFL-CIO. George Nee is president of the AFL-CIO in Rhode Island.

Make Wall Street pay for the jobs it destroyedBy Richard Trumka and George Nee

George Nee

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Common Ground June 2010