Sam G. Howard

@samghoward.riliberator.com

2542 Followers 997 Following

Rhode Islander, education union data organizer and Democratic ward committee member. Recovering comms pro, RI's leading vexillologist (probably). Occasionally blogs at riliberator.com

Today, after intense rains across the city, we saw our city infrastructure fail us. Decades of underfunding, faulty repairs by the city and by vendors and years of inconsistent maintenance have resulted in deteriorating infrastructure right in our neighborhoods.
Providence mayoral candidate Brett Smiley does pothole patrol with ABC 6 04.06.2022 Providence mayoral candidate Brett Smiley, who launched his campaign last week, is focusing on “quality of life” issues in the capital city. ABC 6 News caught up with Brett about how he plans to focus on cleaning up the roads in Providence. He said that the condition of the roads in the city are not due to a lack of funding, but a lack of planning and proper leadership. Read More
Header of a Providence Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 AI "infographic" called "Debunking David Morales" - it shows a very fit, square-jawed fellow who looks vaguely like mayoral candidate State Rep. David Morales.
Screenshot of an NBC10 article about an explosion at an East Providence chemical plant that injured 11 people.
The mayor’s pitch is that we should think small and be satisfied that he is a competent technocrat who often delivers the bare minimum in municipal services. And yet everyone who lived through this past winter’s blizzards knows that Smiley has failed on his own terms. He tapped Patricia Coyne-Fague, former Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, to lead the city’s disastrous snow response as head of the Department of Public Works. She had no relevant experience. As Mamdani has made clear in New York, democratic socialism’s first task is to demonstrate that “government can deliver.”
Brian C Newberry · Because the Democratic base hates Jews, Charlie. I mean c'mon man. Weren't you a reporter? You don't see the obvious or just can't bring yourself to see it because it's too painful?
Providence Librarians have tried to delegitimize my campaign for Mayor of Providence because I am not on the ballot. They removed me from the debates. Write-in campaigns, the route I took when I felt the Providence Canvassers Board was cheating me with 5 days to go, are very legit. See less
However, Providence is already drawing one primary takeaway – and it's not economic. "The people of the city and regionally are hungry for an opportunity like this, to continue to gather in public space," Wilson said. "Now that we've done this and we've seen the interest, there is a desire to recreate something like this on a more permanent level."
Waters for Mayor of Providence Yesterday at 12:47 PM · There is no way Republican Dave 'The Turtle' 🐢 Talan can beat Democrat Socialist David 'The Candy 🍬 🍫 🍭 Man' Morales for Providence Mayor. Only Allen 'Shaft' Waters can defeat the wily Socialists. This is why I am still the independent, now also the write-in, Mayoral candidate. It's really the OG versus NG is my prediction if David Morales the Providence Democratic Party Primary race. Waters for Mayor of Providence A Commonsense Revolutionary Say my name. Write my name.
In 2012, Cicilline, after one term in Congress, faced a highly contested Democratic primary. Businessman Anthony Gemma both challenged Cicilline in the Democratic primary. Via: https://www.golocalprov.com/politics/foulkes-top-campaign-advisor-perpetrated-the-big-lie-on-ri-in-2010
Legislation introduced in RI's general assembly to redefine a "political party" for the purposes of ballot access. Both bills were "held for further study," a legislative limbo that is usually used to stop further consideration of legislation.
Here in New England, the Republican Party is struggling to gain traction and recruit candidates, Marion said. “Rhode Island used to have a strong tradition of liberal Republicans, but the days of (former Governor) Lincoln Chafee and (former Senate minority leader) Lila Sapinsley Republicans are gone.” Republicans now hold just 18 of the 113 Assembly seats, including 10 of the 75 House seats, and four of the 38 Senate seats. This year, the Rhode Island Republican Party is running 28 candidates, including 20 in the House and eight in the Senate.
r/vexillology post: Rhode Island flag remake (Remaking US Flags Series) part 4 [flag image of a gold-white-blue (in order starting from top) horizontal tricolor with a golden anchor surrounded by 13 gold stars in the center of the white stripe] My redesign of the Rhode Island state flag. I kept the iconic anchor as the centerpiece since it has represented hope and the state's maritime heritage for centuries, but simplified it into a clean, modern silhouette. The thirteen stars remain to represent Rhode Island as one of the original Thirteen Colonies, arranged in a balanced circle around the anchor. I replaced the complex original design with horizontal gold, white, and navy stripes to symbolize prosperity, peace, and the Atlantic Ocean. The result is a flag that's much easier to recognize from a distance while preserving Rhode Island's history and identity.
Providence police stats showing a 3% YTD increase in violent crime through 7/5/26, driven by increases in homicides, robberies w/o firearms, and aggravated assaults w/o firearms.
WaPo Opinions editorial decrying RI's new law that requires a human cashier to self-checkout ratio.
Polling of Likely RIGOP primary voters showing their favorability of three declared candidates.
% of RI residents by their Likelihood and Desire to Leave Rhode Island
“The DMV has prohibited such combinations as AIDS, CHRIST, GAY, JESUS, LESBIAN, REDNECK and YANKEE. But it has issued plates that read CHRIST, JEWISH, REDNEC AND REDNEK,” McElroy said. “It has prohibited words that are typically denigrating, such as CHUBBY and SLOB, but allowed FATT and OLDFRT.”
Hi Samuel, I represent a qualified buyer in Providence looking to acquire Rhode Island Community Food Bank. You wouldn't pay a thing. Your business stays off the market. Completely confidential. If you'd consider selling for the right offer, reply and I'll send next steps. Julie Aguilar Strategist | Munera Capital 954 Ave Ponce De Leon STE 205 San Juan, PR, United States PS - if this isn't for you, just let me know
A LinkedIn post by Aaron Guckian saying he is "officially nominated" accompanied by a video with the slogan "Aaron Guckian Wins Rhode Island Republican Nominee for Governor"
So How Did Jeremy Corbyn Ever Become Leader? Which raises an obvious question for anyone who remembers Jeremy Corbyn, how did the hard-left MP from north London somehow win the leadership in 2015? The answer is that the establishment screwed up. Sensing real alienation among left-leaning voters, a number of MPs who didn’t support Corbyn lent him their nominations to get him over the threshold, assuming he’d be trounced but that the left would at least get a hearing. That miscalculation collided with a recent rule change that let members of the public sign up as registered supporters and vote for just £3. A surge of new people paid up, voted overwhelmingly for Corbyn, and made him leader.
The vaccine RFK Jr doesn’t mention The plan's most telling feature is what it left out. Two months before the announcement, Pfizer and Valneva reported that their Lyme vaccine had passed its final major trial, cutting confirmed cases by about 73% in people aged five years and older. Company officials said they would seek approval this year. It would be the first Lyme vaccine available here since 2002. An effort billed as the most ambitious ever waged against Lyme, unveiled weeks after the first effective Lyme vaccine in a generation crossed the finish line, did not mention it. The silence fits Kennedy's long record against vaccines, and it shapes the prevention plan he offered instead, which leans on cutting ticks on deer. Deer feed the adult ticks, but they are not where the bacterium lives; in the Northeast it is kept alive mostly in white-footed mice. Culling deer can lower tick numbers, but only at impractically low deer densities, and it does little to touch the reservoir that keeps infecting them. A plan that promotes a blunt tick measure while ignoring a vaccine that just proved itself has its priorities reversed.
[Highlighted:] Under Republican presidencies, the DSA thrives on frustrated Democratic voters feeling that their party’s leaders aren’t fighting hard enough.[end highlight] During Democratic presidencies, which the DSA mostly spends denouncing the occupant of the Oval Office as a sellout, Democratic loyalists have less patience for factional complaints.
In 1782, the wealthy entrepreneur Aaron Lopez tried to return to rekindle his business empire. But when his carriage stopped to water the horses during his journey, one of his horses bolted, and Lopez drowned. His business interests never fully recovered.
A set of 2026 gubernatorial polling for RI.
That might sound like a huge draw for candidates to vie for these lucrative part-time jobs. But when the deadline for candidate declarations fell on Wednesday June 24, 60% of Rhode Island's legislative seats were uncontested.
A map of central Providence, RI in 1901, showing the route of Promenade St to the Cove Basin.
A 1901 map of Providence, showing the defunct villages Rutenburg, West Providence, and Merino Village. A basin that is the remnant of the actual Silver Lake is also present.
US Federal Post Office in the Olneyville neighborhood of Rhode Island.
Donna Dunton reply, where AI tells her that Tiverton is located just south of Quonset Point.
A Facebook accusation that the RIGOP is "nominating" (actually just endorsing) weak candidates in order to intentionally lose to RI Democrats, posted to the page "Authoritative Woonsocket crime, corruption, and news group." By Donna Dunton: Is it possible that the Republican Party of RI is working against us by nominating weak candidates so that we remain a blue state? Not just now, and NOT ALL OF THEM. #WakeUpCall [screenshot of a press release announcement of the endorsed Republican candidates]
The "Neighborhood Main Street" starting page for the 2020 Providence Great Streets Plan implementation guide, showing what a neighborhood business district would look like with bike lanes, safety features, and environmental improvements.
Vanessa Lopez for Rhode Island Senate is in Pawtucket. · Something worth paying attention to. 👇 The current senator for District 15 sponsored a bill requiring large buildings to report their energy usage. It passed the Senate 33-5. This week, Governor McKee vetoed it. Why you ask? The bill imposes new compliance obligations on private property owners with no resources or financial support, at a time when Rhode Island is already struggling with an affordability crisis. That's like buying a boat when you can't pay your mortgage... I bring this up because it reflects something I care deeply about. Good policy isn't just about good intentions. It's about thinking through the real world impact before a bill becomes law. When even members of the same party disagree on whether something is practical, it's worth pausing and asking the question ourselves. That's the kind of thoughtful, practical leadership I hope to bring to the State House.
My 2020s political compass showing my closest match is former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin.
Facebook Post: D Rocc The Real #ScumbagSuperstar · Cowboy Capone · Colt Graves, Timbaland · I’m considering running for Providence Councilman possibly Ward 12, 13 or 15 in 2027. I would need about 100 votes to gain access to run. Would you vote for me? Give me some feedback. — in Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island.
Facebook ad "A brighter future for Providence is only a vote away." The "candidate" is singing to a group of AI-generated old folks.
A post from Facebook: D Rocc The Real #ScumbagSuperstar is in Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island. · I humbly ask for your vote in this upcoming election for Providence City Council. I will absolutely bring a much needed change to our city. Helping people that need a change. Thank you for the overwhelming support. I appreciate you all. Vote Damian Argenti for Providence City Council. The image is of the candidate on a generic street with a generic "General Store" behind him.
A list of people who are running for governor under a partisan label and will have to compete in a primary.
A list of names of people declared for RI Governor as independents.
The poster running for his local Democratic Ward Committee
They warned that there are no guarantees that the homes will be filled with young first-time homebuyers or downsizing retirees, saying there are many people who want to be in Lincoln schools and they’ll be trying to come here with children.
A poster for reading featuring U.S. Senator Jack "Read".
All Donations Secure & Confidential! Together lets elect new strong candidates in the Senate and House seats this election! This campaign allows you to donate below the $200 limit per PAC which falls below the Board of Elections requirements to report personal information to the public! Make a Personal Confidential Contribution Range From: $50 – $9,900 You can donate securely to the 501(c)(4) and all 40 PACs without disclosing personal information to the public—your support remains 100% confidential. Under election rules, the Board of Elections does not require The League to provide personal information to the public for any donation of $200 or less per PAC per year. Your donation will be allocated as 20% to the 501(c)(4) and 80% split equally among the 40 PACs. that's up to our max cap donation of $9900 assures that your donation is split so donations to the PAC's falls below the limit of $200 for each PAC.
List of declared AG candidates as of 6/22: Dems Keith Hoffman, Jason Knight, Joseph Solomon and Republican Alan Gordon
A third gubernatorial Democratic candidate, restaurant owner Gregory Stevens, did not seek the party’s endorsement. He told Rhode Island Current Monday he was unaware the convention had already occurred or that he needed to ask for an endorsement.
“While vehicle safety is critical, blaming larger vehicles for pedestrian deaths overlooks systemic issues” including the design of roads, said Mike Levine, a spokesman for Ford.
Hi {fname}! Dynata is polling the Providence voters to get their opinions on local issues. Take this short survey. !Hola {fname}! Dynata está realizando una encuesta entre los votantes de Providence para conocer su opinión sobre temas locales. Responda esta
Now you will read a little bit about what the critics say about one of the candidates for Mayor. You will read about David Morales. Others will read about Brett Smiley. For each one, please select if that statement makes you much less likely to vote for that candidate, somewhat less likely to vote for them, or if the statement makes no difference to you. If you do not think the statement is true, please just say so. Morales has only lived in Rhode Island for seven years
The shift to ranked-choice voting, Evans added, only exacerbated the problem by naturally causing voters to spend more time at the machines. In some cases that NOTUS reporters observed, voters could spend up to 20 or more minutes navigating through the many pages of the longer ballot on the electronic voting machines.
Brett Smiley mailer (front) “TO PROTECT PROVIDENCE FROM TRUMP, (Picture of Smiley) WE NEED A MAYOR WHO ALREADY KNOWS HOW TO DO IT.”
A campaign logo that says "Yulyana" in all-caps big light blue bubblish letters with thick, opaque drop shadows in darker blue. Hearts fill the space in both "A" Underneath the name is the slogan "for Ward 3" in green text aligned to the right and aligned to the top left is the slogan "lead with hope"
Sec. 16-302. Prohibition on Excessive Rental Price Increases During Emergencies (a) During a Declared Emergency and for thirty (30) days following its termination, it shall be unlawful for any landlord to: Increase the rent for an existing tenant by more than ten percent (10%) above the Pre-Emergency Rent Offer a rental unit at a rate more than ten percent (10%) above the Pre-Emergency Rent (b) Exceptions The provisions of this section shall not apply where a landlord demonstrates that an increase is directly attributable to: Documented increases in operating costs Necessary repairs or substantial rehabilitation Contractual rent adjustments established prior to the emergency (c) Scope This section applies only during the time period defined herein and does not regulate rental pricing outside of such period.
Post by Justin Roias (Providence City Council Member), on a post that's a screenshot of Goncalves' Facebook post: I’ve really tried to stop calling out my colleague who represents Ward 1, but this is beyond disingenuous. The ordinance he introduced and is referring to is being presented as an anti-price-gouging measure, but the only actual limit on rent increases applies during “DECLARED EMERGENCIES” declared by the President of the United States, the Governor of Rhode Island, or the Mayor of Providence, a fact Councilor Goncalves conveniently leaves out on social media. Outside of those rare periods, landlords can still raise rents by 25%, 30%, or more, and the city’s response is simply to log a complaint or conduct an inspection, NOT stop the increase. For tenants struggling with affordability and displacement, collecting data and publishing reports may be useful, but they do little to address the reality of rapidly rising rents. The ordinance explicitly states that its rent increase thresholds “shall not constitute a limitation on lawful rent increases” and “shall not serve as a limitation on lawful rent adjustments.” In other words, despite the rhetoric, this ordinance does not actually restrict landlords’ ability to raise rents outside of declared emergencies. For those who want to read the actual ordinance for themselves, since it’s odd that he doesn’t share it, here it is: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lx9N7GOzZak-Od0HcuhF84nUzQvdEHST5do2DLQjvzo/edit?tab=t.0
A Facebook post from Providence Councilman John Goncalves detailing a proposal to monitor rents and trigger inspections by the Department of Inspections and Standards if a rent increase is over 25%.
Image of Diane Lane performing in "Streets of Fire" flanked by two men in suits and playing electric guitar and bass singing with her. Text in yellow and black reads: DID YOU KNOW? In between its electrifying musical performances, 1984's Streets of Fire includes an ENTIRE film starring Michael Paré where he punches Diane Lane in the face and fights Willem Dafoe in a sledgehammer duel? Really!
A mailer with a bunch of signs and the slogan “You know Brett Smiley taking on ICE because you can see the signs.”
I also see value in continuity. The term limits voted into the Providence Home Rule Charter in 2006 will have their first significant impact in 2022. Barring major electoral surprises this Fall, term limits will cause a super-majority of incumbent City Council members (and Mayor Elorza if he is re-elected) to step down when the upcoming term ends. Under these conditions, it may be beneficial for our Ward (and for the City as a whole) to have a new City Council representative in place next January who is not subject to term limits in 2022, as I would be if you re-elected me to a third term this Fall.
Table showing the reasons council members left office as a percent of the total of all people to serve on the council since the 2010 elections. End Reason Percent of All Officials Died 3.23% Failed to Qualify 3.23% Left Office 16.13% Lost Primary 6.45% Ran for new office 6.45% Recalled 3.23% Resigned Early 9.68% Seeking Reelection 29.03% Term Limited 22.58% Grand Total 100.00%