July 31, 2008
Developing news.
July 31, 2008
Here's the word from the Gov:
Governor Donald L. Carcieri today issued an Executive Order authorizing that all employees represented by unions that have not ratified the co-share and plan design changes outlined in the Memorandum of Settlement shall enjoy the same health, vision, and dental plan benefits, as non-union Executive branch employees and as employees whose unions have negotiated and ratified agreements containing these cost-savings and will be contributing accordingly.
"I have a constitutional and statutory obligation to balance the budget," said Governor Carcieri. "If I don't take this action, I will be neglecting my primary duty to balance the budget on behalf of all our citizens."
"My administration spent six months and hundreds of hours negotiating the terms of this agreement with representatives of Council 94. Those representatives agreed to the terms that were finally negotiated. There were numerous concessions from the state, including not going forward with the layoff of hundreds of employees and guaranteed wage increases of 8.5% over the four year contract."
"It was my hope that Council 94 and the other unions would have recognized the severity of the State's fiscal crisis and seized the opportunity to be part of the solution, as have more than two-thirds of the other unions who participated in the collective negotiations. Instead, the action by these unions to reject the agreement has only weakened the State's fiscal situation, requiring this unilateral action to balance the budget."
By the authority of the Executive Order, the Governor directed that all eligible employees shall contribute toward the cost of health care coverage based on a percentage of premiums for either the individual or family plan as set forth below for medical insurance, dental benefits and/or vision/optical benefits. Said co-share percentages shall apply based on the employee's annualized total rate and shall be via payroll deductions. The Executive Order also authorized employee co-shares for dental coverage and employee co-pays for medical services and pharmaceuticals.
"The implementation of the plan design changes and the co-pays will allow the State to realize some of the budget savings expected by the ratification of the settlement, and will help prevent, for the time being, more aggressive personnel actions including layoffs and shut down days."
And the response from Council 94:
North Providence - Today, Rhode Island Council 94, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO voiced their strong opposition to Governor Carcieri's attempts to unilaterally impose his health care insurance premium co-share proposal upon members who democratically voted to reject the proposed contract settlement.
Dennis R. Grilli, Executive Director, explained, "Today Governor Carcieri has made a difficult situation worse. By attempting to unilaterally impose increased health care premium co-shares upon our members' and their families the Governor has chosen a path that will increase the level of tension and acrimony between state employees and this administration. While we want to have a contract that is fair to Rhode Island taxpayers and some of the lowest paid state employees, Council 94 will not be bullied, coerced, or intimidated. Further Council 94 is fully prepared to fight and respond to the Carcieri administration's actions swiftly and with all of the resources at our disposal."
Executive Director Grilli, continued, "In June 2008, Governor Carcieri refused to accept a proposed settlement that would have saved the state over $40 million dollars. When Governor Carcieri refused to accept the proposed settlement, Council 94 acted appropriately. We exercised restraint. The Governor should now exercise the same restraint. Now that our members have taken a democratic vote to reject a proposed settlement, he has decided to resort to scare tactics. Council 94 is not afraid. Unfortunately, the path that the Governor has chosen will cost Rhode Islanders more money in the long run. We sincerely hope that the administration will negotiate in good faith, instead of this reckless and irresponsible course of action."
July 31, 2008
The ProJo has gotten around to deleting the back and forth among two commenters on its Politics blog that began when one of them said that recently deceased Newport denizen and GOP icon Eileen Slocum . . .
once referred to her half-white, half-black grandchildren as "my little pick-aninnies" and got away with it. These were the offspring of daughter, Beryl and her husband, Adam Clayton Powell III. They just don't make 'em like Eileen anymore. Farewell, my lady.
The sometimes-accurate Wikipedia has this to say about the word in question:
Pickaninny (also picaninny or piccaninny) is a term – generally considered derogatory – that in English usage refers to black children, or a caricature of them which is widely considered racist. It is a pidgin word form, which may be derived from the Portuguese pequenino ("little little [one]").
July 31, 2008
With about four hours until the trading deadline, Sox Nation watches and waits to see what happens with Manny and whether Boston can shed its recent identity as a team playing like a bunch of wet kittens.
As we know, the Angels and Yankees have taken decisive steps to improve their clubs, and the Rays still top the AL East.
While there are differences between Ramirez's funk and the past departures of Nomar and Pedro, the situation is reminiscent of 2004, when a capable but underperforming Sox team needed -- and got -- a front office-engineered jolt.
After Manny came into camp in great spirits, it's disappointing to see how things have gone south. Obviously, at this point, he can't be counted upon, even if it's in his interest to perform well for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, this image projects how his HOF plaque would look if all the trade rumors about him had come true over the years (h/t Boston Dirt Dogs).
July 31, 2008
Brown alum Anna Galland, formerly the gracious and good-humored local program director for the American Friends Service Committee, is now working for Moveon.org. Via the organization's outreach, she sent word of the following event:
The most important election in a generation is less than 100 days away. Will you join a new group in Providence to help stop John McCain and elect Barack Obama?
At a party this weekend, Providence MoveOn members are getting together to form a new local MoveOn Council. Between now and November, this Council will join with others around the country to hold house parties and rallies, reach out to undecided voters, and get our message into the media.
It's a great way to meet other local progressives—and we'll make sure it's fun AND effective.
If you might be interested, please come to the party! Here's the information:
Host: Nate L—fellow MoveOn member
Where: Second Floor Apartment on Doyle Ave (in Providence)
When: Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, at 6:00 PM
Anna had moved a few years back to Portland, Oregon, to continue her organizing efforts. This article in the Nation describes her belief in MoveOn and its appeal.
"Before I joined MoveOn," says staffer Anna Galland, "I was organizing in Rhode Island doing faith-based antiwar activism. In March 2003, MoveOn had put out an action alert for a vigil against the Iraq War. There were 500 people on the steps of the Capitol, and I remember thinking, 'I know all the activists in the state; where did all these people come from?' I think many people have a MoveOn moment where they look around and realize that this organization has managed to tap into a much broader range of people than they might have seen at past activist events."
July 31, 2008
In the aftermath of informational meetings held separately yesterday by the Providence Newspaper Guild and management at the Providence Journal, Guild members have "lots of questions" and "lots of concern" about the buyout announced earlier this week, Guild administrator Tim Schick tells me.
"We have started referring to the seniority list as Schindler's List," Schick says. "It's sort of a bad joke," since in the event of layoffs, senior staffers will have the greatest job protection.
I write about the buyout, which follows two previous rounds of cuts, in this week's Phoenix:
For those who want to look for a silver lining, the local cuts could be smaller — five percent than those being implemented (14 percent) at other Belo newspapers, since the paper says it would settle for just 35 voluntary departures. And regardless of what happens, the Journal will remain Rhode Island’s most important news organization.
Yet the continued watering down of a once-vital civic institution, which has played a lead role over the years in helping to root out wrongdoing by public officials, has become clear to even the most casual readers.
On Monday, the New York Times reported that California-based Verve Wireless, which provides mobile versions via cell phone of 4000 newspapers, from 140 publishers, “believes it can save the dying local newspaper by making it mobile.”
So far, however, even though the combined print and Web circulation of most newspapers equals the total of the bygone print-only era, the industry has yet to come up with a new economic model for sustaining meaningful reporting into the future.
While I've looked at the reaction of some senior staffers, the names of those taking part in the buyout -- due to be implemented September 12 -- won't be clear until the sign-up period ends on August 20.
July 31, 2008
Rachael Bornstein is filling the legislative director role for US Representative Jim Langevin in his DC office, succeeding 10-year veteran Brian Daniels, a Warwick native, who plans to pursue an MBA at Yale. Daniels formerly worked for former US Representative Robert Weygand.
Bornstein, who hails from Maryland, comes from the office of US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, having most recently served as senior health policy advisor.
Marla Greenberg, Langevin's legislative assistant, is also departing, after two years, to chase a law degree.
July 30, 2008
While expressing disappointment about today's departure of Jim Hummel, Stephen Doerr, WLNE-TV's general manager, says improving ratings at Channel 6 demonstrate the soundness of the station's direction under new management.
"I'm sorry to lose him, but I understand," Doerr told me a short time ago. "I respect that. He's a good guy." The GM called his parting meeting over coffee with Hummel this morning "pleasant," adding, "I respect when people make a decision and they stick to it."
Asked about Hummel's statement that he left Channel 6 because, he said, it is sensationalizing and distorting news to boost ratings, Doerr responded, "We never, ever distort news. The No. 1 thing we do here is tell the truth."
Speaking broadly, Doerr says, "Sensationalize -- like tabloid -- people use that when they don't have another word to use." The GM says Hummel was uncomfortable with the "very informal" writing that Channel 6 has come to use in its newscasts, although the approach remains "a work in progress."
Doerr says he couldn't talk in specifics since he didn't have the relevant data at his fingertips, but he said, "We are the fastest growing station in New England for a reason. We look better and sound better, and viewers are responding. We’re doing something right," and trying new things, like a 4 pm newscast. "The ratings have improved. We have a long way to go. We expect the growth to continue."
Doerr praised Chanel 6's 6 and 11 pm anchor team of John Deluca and Allison Alexander. Deluca will handle some of the political reporting formerly done by Hummel, and several people on the staff, he says, are capable of doing investigative reporting.
In Rhode Island, where viewing habits are ingrained, Channel 6 has long faced a challenge in competing with Channels 10 and 12.
Asked about the plan put into place under new ownership, Doerr says, "I would describe it as kind of a popular press approach. We are going to be a very hard-hitting station," with investigations, breaking news, and "breaking weather. We’re not going to just sit back and see how things go." He called 10 and 12 "very traditional" in their approach. "For us to get into that, it doesn't make any sense," Doerr says. "We've got to zig when they zag."
Ultimately, Doerr says, "[In] television, people come and go. That's the nature of the game."
July 30, 2008
Neither Robin J. Costello or the office of US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy is in a rush to talk about it, but Costello is the latest press secretary for Kennedy to move on. Sources tell N4N that Costello, previously the communications director for Day One - the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center, is taking a new gig with Warwick-based Plan USA.
Like Representative Jim Langevin, but unlike Senators Reed and Whitehouse, Kennedy has maintained a Rhode Island-based press secretary.
Larry Berman, now with the House leadership on Smith Hill, holds the recent Kennedy longevity record, with an eight-year run. Others who've run media interference include Dave Sanders and Ernie Anguilla, the brother of former Representative Fausto Anguilla.
Costello hasn't returned a phone message left earlier today at her home, and as of now, there's no comment from the Kennedy camp.
About the changes, one observer says, "I don't think it's any reflection on Patrick."
July 30, 2008
UPDATE: I've left a message for ABC6 news director B.J. Finnell, and will report on what he has to say if and when he gets back to me. I'm also trying to reach WLNE GM Stephen Doerr.
Here's some additional comment from Hummel:
The 13-year veteran of Channel 6 confirmed that he does not have another job immediately lined up, and that his departing in this fashion "has some people scratching their heads."
Hummel says his non-compete clause will keep him from working in the Providence TV market for a few months, but it sounds as if he'd like to catch on with one of the other stations after his self-imposed "sabbatical." The reporter, who has spent his entire career at the ProJo and at Channel 6, says he's looking forward to enjoying some time off during the pleasant months of August, September, and October.
Hummel, 48, says he has a continued interest in reporting.
"As journalists, we all want to try to make a difference," he says, expressing pride about what he did with his trademark "You Paid For It!" investigative reports. "Leaving that is tough," Hummel adds, but he was not certain that new ownership at the station -- despite assurances that Channel 6 was supportive of investigative reporting -- would continue the segment in the way he wanted to do it.
Ultimately, Hummel says, "For 13 yeears, I've been a cheerleader and an ambassador for the station, despite our struggles in the ratings, because I believed in the product, and I can’t say that anymore."
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I just spoke with Jim Hummel. Due to a 1 pm appearance on WPRO's Buddy Cianci Show, my inquiry to station officials at Channel 6 will have to wait until after that.
Asked why he left, Hummel said, "I've really become disturbed by the direction the station has been taking." Asked to elaborate, he cited "increasing pressure to sensationalize and to distort the news to boost the ratings . . . I'm not going to get into chapter and verse . . . We used words like 'thug,' 'lowlife,' and 'scumbag.' Those are direct quotes," that were "condoned and encouraged. I just think we're crossing the line as journalists that I don't think we should be crossing."
While he agrees that Channel 6, the traditional local ratings laggard, needs to be different from its competitors at Channel 10 and Channel 12, Hummel said, WLNE's approach under new management is "a road I'm not willing to go down with them."
Hummel says he'd been thinking about leaving for several months, and told new management when his contract expired in February that he had questions about the station's future. A series of extensions carried him through late June, and he continued working under a gentleman's agreement.
Hummel called his departure today one that came on his own initiative, as well as an "amicable parting with a handshake and a 'good luck.' "
He says Channel 6's use of Cianci as an on-air analyst "was not a major factor, but it was a factor." After covering Cianci off and on for 25 years, Hummel says, "To then be told I had to work with him as a colleague, let’s just say it was a difficult position for a journalist to be put in."
More later . . .
July 30, 2008
Speaking of TV, veteran newsman Jim Hummel, who has long been the best and most serious reporter at WLNE-TV (Channel 6), has left the station as of this morning.
A source says Hummel made the decision because his contract was up and he didn't like the direction of Channel 6 under new ownership. Besides being the station's chief reporter, Hummel has been known for his "You Paid for It!" segments.
"He said, 'I gave them the keys and walked out,' " the source says.
Hummel was previously a reporter at the ProJo. He reportedly has no immediate plans for a new job. Most reporters in the local market have non-compete clauses that preclude them from going to other local stations, usually for a period of one year.
I'll be calling Jim and Channel 6 for more details. Stay tuned.
July 30, 2008
It's not just newspapers that are having tough times these days. Local TV news is also losing eyeballs and money to the Internet. And some of what TV consultant Dick Kurlander cites in a letter to TVNewsday will be familiar to viewers and TV reporters far from his home in the South.
In my consulting travels around the country, and as a viewer here in Charlotte, N.C., I am constantly amazed at the apparent death wish many local stations seem to have. The total news adult 25-54 ratings in most markets have steadily gone down every year for the past 10 years. ....
The death wish is most evident when actually watching a half-hour newscast. Local news is generally defined as crime, car crashes, minor house fires and endless weather hype. It's as if every day is a blank slate on the assignment desk. Whatever is easiest to cover with no real effort or manpower investment is today's news.
Weather has become the dominant content in every Charlotte news program, and this is true in most markets. In a half-hour newscast, there are usually three weather segments adding up to around seven minutes. Super-duper-double-doppler radar, and other weather toys are paraded out every day. .... If there actually is a run-of-the-mill summer thunderstorm around, it's treated like a potential catastrophe. "Chicken Little, the sky is falling" (or will be some time in the next seven days) pretty much sums up most local weather segments.
Then there is the commercial glut.
Our system of commercially supported broadcasting has been a win-win model for the past 60 years. Unfortunately, we're killing it because of the exponential expansion of commercials and promos, particularly on the local level. Many stations air more than 10 minutes of commercials/promos in a half-hour newscast. Some air closer to 12 minutes. "Change the channel" might as well be displayed full screen.
July 30, 2008
Count Seth Gitell surprised:
RNC Obama Parody Ad
Here’s the Republican National Committee’s attempt to satirize Barack Obama’s recent speech in Berlin. I didn’t think the GOP had it in them, but, if anything, the goofy house music and strobe lighting made me laugh. Who do they even have over at that operation that knows anything about European dance music?
July 30, 2008
Here in Rhode Island, we ink-stained wretches like to refer to the state and its picaresque characters as the gifts that keep on giving. Clearly, though, the national stage also has much to offer for future generations. Take a look at these details from yesterday's New York Times:
1) White House Predicts Bush Will Leave $482 Billion Deficit
WASHINGTON — The White House predicted Monday that President Bush would leave a record $482 billion deficit to his successor, a sobering turnabout in the nation’s fiscal condition from 2001, when Mr. Bush took office after three consecutive years of budget surpluses.
The worst may be yet to come. The deficit announced by Jim Nussle, the White House budget director, does not reflect the full cost of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the potential $50 billion cost of another economic stimulus package, or the possibility of steeper losses in tax revenues if individual income or corporate profits decline.
The new deficit numbers also do not account for any drains on the national treasury that might result from further declines in the housing market.
2) Waterboarding as Art
The journalist Christopher Hitchens underwent waterboarding for a recent Vanity Fair article. Now an artist is using that interrogation technique — which makes people feel as if they were drowning — to raise awareness of the issue of torture. The artist, Steve Powers, opened “The Waterboarding Thrill Ride” on Saturday in the Coney Island arcade in Brooklyn. An animatronic diorama that depicts a prisoner being waterboarded, it is being presented by Creative Time, the public art organization, as part of an initiative called “Democracy in America: The National Campaign.” The piece, which occupies a former photo booth redesigned as a jail cell on West 12th Street in Coney Island, will be on view to the public throughout the summer. Viewers can see the scene through cell bars after paying $1 outside. “Humor has long been a strategy for speaking the unspeakable,” Anne Pasternak, the president and artistic director of Creative Time, said in a statement, “and it is vital that we as a nation begin a dialogue about the implications of waterboarding.” In mid-August Mr. Powers and several lawyers will be waterboarded by a trained professional in a secret location in Coney Island as a private performance. Documentation on the performance will be at creativetime.org.
July 29, 2008
From commenters on the ProJo's politics blog, reacting to Eileen Slocum's death:
Comments
wally pickford said:
I remember Eileen. She was the personification of women's liberation before women became liberated. With her inimitable, free-wheeling, I-beg-your-pardon style, packaged with authentic Waspish intonation, she charmed everyone within earshot. But what I loved most about this unique woman was her unapologetic pro-life position. This "Brown (as in John Brown) broad from Belleview Avenue" once referred to her half-white, half-black grandchildren as "my little pick-aninnies" and got away with it. These were the offspring of daughter, Beryl and her husband, Adam Clayton Powell III. They just don't make 'em like Eileen anymore. Farewell, my lady. WP
Link | July 28, 2008 7:40 PM
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Women with money have always been liberated said:
Guess I'm not with it, I had to look that one up:
The picaninny (It is also spelled pickaninny and piccaninny) was the dominant racial caricature of Black children for most of this country's history. They were "child coons," miniature versions of Stepin Fetchit. Picaninnies had bulging eyes, unkempt hair, red lips, and wide mouths into which they stuffed huge slices of watermelon. They were themselves tasty morsels for alligators. They were routinely shown on postcards, posters, and other ephemera being chased or eaten. Picaninnies were portrayed as nameless, shiftless natural buffoons running from alligators and toward fried chicken. [source: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pickaninnies]
Well I guess if you have a potload of money you can call anybody whatever you want and get away with it, but heaven forbid anyone call you on being a pretentious snob after you're gone. Must be a full-time job today getting rid of all of the politically incorrect posts, as it looks like only one has passed muster so far.
Link | July 28, 2008 10:59 PM