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Boston Globe
a day ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The R.I. Legislature has the power to help protect our immigrant community
This legislative session, alongside many advocates and policymakers, the Advertisement This small adjustment has a profound impact, it protects immigrant Rhode Islanders from unjust immigration detention, denial of relief, and deportation for minor offenses. Under federal immigration law, a one-year maximum sentence — even for minor offenses — can trigger devastating consequences for immigrants, including Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Take, for instance, a longtime legal permanent resident with a single misdemeanor shoplifting conviction. Even if the individual receives no jail time, just a small fine, they can still face the devastating consequence of deportation and permanent separation from their family. This is because under our current laws, the offense carries a potential sentence of one year, triggering harsh Advertisement Rhode Island wouldn't be the first to take this step — states like New York, Washington, Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, and New Mexico have recognized the need to protect their residents; Rhode Island must do the same. For the fifth consecutive year, the Senate has prioritized protecting our immigrant neighbors and friends. Yet, it remains stalled in the House Judiciary Committee, waiting to be voted on the House floor. This modest one-day change would not shield individuals convicted of serious crimes, such as, violent offenses, domestic violence, or firearm-related charges which are already treated separately under federal immigration law. These offenses would remain deportable regardless of the sentence length. Just as crucially, this change would not alter the authority of judges or prosecutors. Judges would still retain full discretion to impose appropriate sentences and prosecutors would continue to make charging decisions based on the facts and circumstances of each case. As the 2025 legislative session draws to an end, the RIBLIA Caucus strongly urges the passage of House Bill 5502. Without action, immigrant Rhode Islanders, both documented and undocumented, will remain vulnerable to life-altering consequences for low-level, nonviolent offenses. Together, we have the power to uphold fairness, prevent unnecessary family separations, and protect the rights and dignity of all Rhode Islanders. The time for a floor vote is now. The time to act is now. State Representative David Morales represents District 7 in Providence's Mount Pleasant, Valley, and Elmhurst neighborhoods. State Representative Leonela Felix represents District 61 in Pawtucket. Advertisement
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New R.I. Senate leaders push revised ban on assault-style weapons to Senate floor
New Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, who also leads the National Education Association Rhode Island, and new Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III, a licensed gun dealer, used their power to vote in any committee, and backed the bill. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, and Minority Whip Gordon E. Rogers, a Foster Republican, also used their ex officio powers, voting against the bill. Advertisement The 10-member Judiciary Committee had been seen as evenly split on the issue. But Senator John P. Burke, a West Warwick Democrat , voted for the bill, defying expectations. The revised gun bill has drawn support from Everytown for Gun Safety leaders, who have said, 'Compromise is a part of public policy progress, and the amended version of this bill is still a massive step forward.' But it has drawn criticism from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, which issued a statement Wednesday and said it remains 'deeply disappointed' in the 'weakened' ban on assault-style weapons and favors the House-passed bill. Advertisement Senator Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat, voted for the bill in the Judiciary Committee, and said she has prepared floor amendments that would restore the bill to the House-passed version. The vote had been seen as a test for both Lawson and Ciccone, who has opposed prior gun bills and has said he sells a small numbers to friends and family. On May 20, the state Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, is one of 99 federal firearms license holders in Rhode Island who would be affected by a proposed ban on assault-style weapons. The Ethics Commission voted 8 to 1 for an advisory opinion that says Ciccone falls under the ethics code's 'class exception,' which says public officials don't have a conflict of interest if legislation would not help or hurt them any more than any other member of a business, profession, or group. Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, voted against the bill in committee, saying, 'I need to emphasize my disgust that we are once again abridging our Second Amendment rights for all Rhode Islanders. No form of firearms ban is acceptable under the guise of making us safer.' Raptakis predicted the residents will be less safe 'because law-abiding citizens will not be able to buy weapons to defend themselves next year.' The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, which emphasized that it's the only Rhode Island-based gun control advocacy group, asked advocates to ask senators to support the version of the bill passed by the House. Advertisement 'Our No. 1 goal is to keep Rhode Islanders as safe as possible from preventable gun violence,' coalition Executive Director Melissa Carden said in a statement. And she said the House-passed bill was the 'result of years of collaboration of gun safety advocates and legislators getting to the best bill possible.' 'At a time when the federal government is rolling back gun safety measures across the board, the states need to do all they can to make sure our communities and families are safe,' Carden said. She noted that Attorney General Peter F. Neronha had backed the House-passed bill and said he would defend it in court. On Bluesky, Providence resident Suzanne Ellis Wernevi asked Neronha to weigh in on the revised gun bill. Neronha replied, 'It's an approach followed by some states like Washington. We haven't looked at it carefully. I support the version passed by the House, which we studied carefully and participated in the drafting of, and which best preserves public safety.' House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, issued a statement, and said, 'I am withholding comment until the entire Senate considers the bill. The final bill is subject to change on the Senate floor, so it would be premature to comment at this time.' Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Rhode Island is poised to end high-interest payday loans
Critics say 'payday lenders' have been preying on the poor by charging annualized percentage rates of 260 percent for the small-dollar, short-term loans, rather than remaining under a cap of 36 percent that applies to other lenders. Supporters contend that the storefronts provide a valuable service to those short of cash, charging 10 percent transaction fees for loans due in two weeks or 30 days. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Senator Ana B. Quezada, a Providence Democrat who introduced the Advertisement Payday lending has been taking advantage of poor people, people of color, for many, many years,' she said. The bill has been a priority for the Advertisement Quezada said the bill had never passed the Senate before because it was opposed by former Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat who Representative Karen Alzate, a Pawtucket Democrat who introduced the House version of the bill, said the legislation has been introduced in the House for the past 14 years without becoming law. '(The current law) preyed on the poor, especially the elderly on fixed income,' she said. 'Whenever they get paid with Social Security checks, the payday lenders would take money. It was a merry-go-round of getting loans and not being able to repay them.' Alzate said better short-term loan options already exist for Rhode Islanders, including local credit unions, banks and community financial groups that offer small loans, with low fees and interest rates ranging from 5 percent to 30 percent. Such legislation has long faced opposition from former House Speaker William J. Murphy, who now works as a lobbyist for the payday lender Advance America. The proposed legislation would put eight Advance America storefronts out of business and result in the loss of 25 'good-paying jobs,' Murphy said Tuesday. 'I wish that they put us out of business with competition, not legislation,' he said. But more importantly, Murphy said, 'Thousands of Rhode Islanders would be without the ability to access credit in a very quick manner. We have just limited Rhode Islanders' personal choice on their finances.' While other entities offer loans, 'when you peel back the onion, it's not the same,' he said. Advertisement Alan Krinsky, director of research and fiscal policy at the Economic Progress Institute, contended that As a result of this bill becoming law, Krinsky predicted, 'There will be a number of Rhode Islanders who will not be caught in a cycle of debt, a debt trap, and the problems that go along with that.' This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
R.I. leaders pause on bottle bill, calling for more study
But the Greater Providence of Chamber of Commerce and other business groups waged a high-profile Bottle bills have been introduced off and on in Rhode Island since the early 1980s, but they have run into stiff opposition from the national beverage companies and local retailers. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The most recent push began in 2023 with Representative Carol Hagan McEntee, a South Kingstown Democrat, and Senator Mark P. McKenney, a Warwick Democrat, co-chairing a special legislative commission on the issue. Advertisement On Monday, Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, and Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, issued a joint statement thanking that commission for studying the issue for a year and a half. But, they said, 'There is still a great deal of conflicting data as to the implementation of best practices to address the problems of improving and disposing of our recyclable products, as well as enhancing our anti-littering efforts.' Shekarchi and Lawson said they believe it's in the best interests of Rhode Islanders to study the issue further. Advertisement They said the amended legislation would enable the state Department of Environmental Management to 'work with an independent third-party consultant with relevant expertise to conduct an assessment with input from local key stakeholders.' A report would be due no later than December 2026. McEntee told the Globe she was disappointed. " I'm very surprised by it because we've already studied this to death," she said. 'If it is with the intent of taking step two next year and implementing the bottle bill, then I may be able to be sold on that, but I'm not sure what it is.' McEntee said the special legislative commission listened to 'all of the stakeholders' and made adjustments to their proposed legislation. For instance, she said that under the proposal it would not be mandatory for any business to take the bottles or cans back, and it would not cost the state anything because a producer responsibility organization would run the program. " I really think it's important to have a bottle bill," McEntee said. 'Without one, we're not going to be able to attack the litter situation, the situation in Narragansett Bay with all of the microplastics, and the poor recycling rate.' She said she will try to make further changes to the bill that Shekarchi and Lawson have amended. 'In its current state, I don't think it has a good chance of passing the House Environment Committee,' she said. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
R.I. needs a Green Amendment. It's powerful protection for our environment.
Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Recognizing the power of constitutional rights for environmental protection, van Rossum set out to help other states create their own Green Amendments. Her work attracted the attention of the Green Teams of Advertisement The Green Amendment establishes constitutional rights for all Rhode Islanders to clean air and water, clean soil, and a stable climate — similar to other such rights like free speech, due process, and property rights. The state will serve as a trustee for our natural resources, for the equitable benefit of all, for present and future generations. The Green Amendment harnesses the power of the Constitution to protect our environment from adverse commercial or government actions. Advertisement The Rhode Island Senate Next, the House must pass its The Environment Council of Rhode Island strongly supports the Green Amendment as effective environmental protection. We think it has an excellent chance of winning the popular election and becoming part of our Constitution. A Advertisement Peter Trafton is co-vice president for policy at the Environment Council of Rhode Island, a coalition of organizations and individuals collaborating for over 50 years to protect and improve the environment.
