Could Little Rhody get a national award for the skill with which its politicians steadily shoot themselves in the foot?
Just as Senate Dems reelected the elegant Teresa Paiva-Weed as majority leader, Bruce Long, a GOP representative from Aquidneck Island, gets his beads read in public for a number of things, ranging from accusations of spousal abuse to an alleged failure, as described by Channel 10, to pay his business taxes. And now the state Ethics Commission is looking into Senate President Joe Montalbano’s previously undeclared work for the municipality of West Warwick. Hey, Teresa, take a harder look at the company that you keep.
Speaking of Representative Long, what if you gave a political party and nobody came? That seems to be the case with the state’s GOP, which barely has enough players in local government to field a softball team. Not only is the party anemic once you get past Governor Carcieri, it has absolutely no unity, and even failed to present a Congressional opponent against Jimmy Langevin. And how buddy-buddy do you think are Eileen “Jurassic Spice” Slocum and Steve “Laugh At Me” Laffey? “Please, young man, the servant’s entrance is at the rear of the house.”
Our old pal, JARhead Jim Taricani, who was spurred on by Cousin Brucie Long’s obviously still-irate ex-spouse, revealed the 26-year lawmaker’s issues during a scathing expose on Monday. According to Jimbo, Long — who has a Del’s Lemonade operation in his district — acknowledged that he could owe the IRS for unpaid business taxes. P&J’s only gripe with Mr. I-Team’s report is that it failed to mention how Long is known on Aquidneck Island for being the former proprietor of Chicken City.
We await the reaction of Long’s constituents in Middletown and Jamestown. It might be time for the representative to hand in his cards, ASAP.
Marti moves up
There is no keener or more effective advocate for progressive causes in Vo Dilun than Marti Rosenberg. For a couple of decades, she has spearheaded numerous initiatives to make our state a better place, and mentored so many others who have worked to make positive change. After 13 years (11 as executive director) at Ocean State Action, Marti is moving on, taking on a new role in January as development director of USAction, Ocean State’s national umbrella, and one of the largest consumer advocacy groups in the country.
Marti, one of the founders of USAction, says she is ready for a new challenge to “invest more energy in building a progressive infrastructure on the national level.” Not to worry, though. Marti will maintain her residence here in the Biggest Little (where she can tap into Jorge’s — who lives around the corner — expertise at licking and stuffing envelopes, a regular activity at Casa Rosenberg).
Keep in mind that OSA will hold a fundraising dinner to see Marti off, on Thursday, January 25 — an event that, as she puts it, “may be one of the more embarrassing evenings I might have to endure.” Can you say “Roast,” everyone? If all those who owe Marti a debt of gratitude show up, it’ll be a huge send-off (more on this later). We’ll close for now by wishing Marti the best. We expect only more great things from this marvelous woman.
