During a hearing of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi discussed the housing crisis enveloping many states – and asked for more federal help to address it. With such an impactful and widespread problem, Shekarchi said, “I respectfully request that Congress provide states with greater funding mechanisms and grant opportunities […]
Joe Shekarchi
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 20, 2024
On national pepperoni pizza day, you could do worse than the Roni Island at Pizza Marvin. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF […]
Posted inBusiness, Local, Politics
Rhode Island officials surprised by Hasbro’s potential move
Rhode Island officials are scrambling after being surprised by the news that the iconic toy-maker and entertainment company Hasbro is considering moving its headquarters out of state. “It’s all hands on deck to keep Hasbro in Pawtucket,” Governor Dan McKee said in a statement. McKee said Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien and he are seeking a […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 13, 2024
Say it with me now: triskaidekaphobia. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF THE WEEK: For all the yak about cranky Rhode Islanders […]
Posted inHousing, Local
As state lawmakers look to boost housing, zoning remains a pitched political battle in Rhode Island
Standing on Broad Street in Cumberland, Jennifer Hawkins looks up at the former St. Patrick’s Church. Hawkins leads the nonprofit developer ONE Neighborhood Builders, which is renovating the vacant church building and turning it into housing. ONE Neighborhood Builders originally planned to build 44 low- and moderate-income apartments, but that number has increased thanks to […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
With top state officials at DNC, who is running Rhode Island?
With Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, who is in charge of the state? The answer may seem academic, since there’s a small chance of a sudden crisis engulfing the state before the officials return later this week. But Rhode […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Aug. 2, 2024
It’s a sign of the times when CVS Health unveils a new initiative meant to help vulnerable people deal with the effects of extreme weather. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics
Rhode Island officials welcome federal housing grant
Rhode Island officials say a newly announced $3.8 million federal grant will help the state to make more headway against its housing crisis. Kimberly McClain, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, attended a news conference Wednesday in the state library at the Statehouse, complete with an oversized check. “It is […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 21, 2024
All of a sudden, spending some time watching the Red Sox is a pleasure. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF THE WEEK: […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on state spending, housing and his future plans
Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi holds what is often called the most powerful job in state government. That’s because the speaker controls the legislation in the House of Representatives and has broad influence over the state budget. The $13.9 billion spending plan approved by lawmakers earlier this month won praise for including more money for healthcare and education. And Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, wins kudos even from some Republicans for keeping an open door and having a consensus-oriented approach. But Rhode Island’s budget has grown by 50% since before the pandemic and the state’s fiscal outlook has grown more challenging. Can Rhode Island afford the growth in its state budget? There are also familiar and persistent difficulties in housing and other areas. What can be done to make more progress on housing? And what does the future hold for the man who leads the House of Representatives? This week, we’re going in-depth with House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.