All Entries in the "Political" Category
Rhode Island Foundation invites you to share your thoughts at free community meet-ups May 3 and 5
PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Foundation is inviting the public to share their thoughts about the issues that are important to them at free community get-togethers May 3 and May 5. The events are at the heart “TogetherRI,” a new initiative from the Foundation designed to get people talking face-to-face again in a time social media is becoming increasingly coarse and divisive.
“We’re giving you the opportunity to listen, reconnect and inspire civil dialogue at a time when people are more ‘connected’ via social media, yet more disconnected from each other personally than ever,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Our hope is that participants will meet someone new and will leave knowing that their voice was heard.”
The May 3 community dinner will be held at the Meehan Overlook, Governor Notte Park, 1801 Douglas Ave., North Providence, from 6 p.m. to 7:30p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and the doors will open at 5:45 p.m. People can register to attend at togetherri.org, but RSVPs are not required.
“This is a place for everyone – no matter where they live or what they care about – to come together to strengthen social connections, to be heard, to discuss opportunities and challenges and to strengthen the foundation of our community,” said Steinberg.
For people who cannot attend the North Providence event, a free community breakfast is scheduled for May 5 at the Elmwood Community Center, 155 Niagara St., Providence, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The doors will open at 8:45 a.m.
“Each and every Rhode Islander has a role to play in ensuring our collective success. These conversations will be a neutral place for dialogue on topics that are critical to our common future, and a place where we hope the recent tendency toward divisiveness and polarization will be left at the door,” said Steinberg.
Independent, professional facilitators will guide the sessions. The University of Rhode Island’s Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy will review the information shared at TogetherRI conversations and from brief, anonymous, participant surveys. The Foundation expects to announce the topline results at its annual meeting May 24 and to release a complete report this summer.
The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $38 million and awarded $43 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2017. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.
Save The Bay Files Complaint for Declaratory Judgment on Coastal Resources Management Council Appointees
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – April 20, 2018 – Save The Bay today filed a complaint in Superior Court asking for a declaratory judgment clarifying the number of members the governor has the authority to appoint to the Coastal Resources Management Council and the required qualifications of those members.
The Coastal Resources Management Council is a state agency charged with implementing and enforcing policies concerning the coastal resources of Rhode Island. The Council also acts as hearing officers over contested cases. “We bring this action on behalf of our members who are repeatedly impacted by Council decisions concerning the development of the coastline, public access and the enforcement of regulations designed to protect natural resources. Our members use and enjoy our coastal resources, own or reside near properties that are subject to Council regulations, and use public access sites for surfing, fishing, boating and swimming. They deserve to be properly represented by the Council,” said Save The Bay Executive Director Jonathan Stone.
Rhode Island law states that the Council shall consist of 16 members—eight appointed by the governor, including the director of the Department of Environmental Management, and eight appointed by the legislature. The law further stipulates that half of the Council members shall be elected or appointed officials at the time of their appointment to the Council and the majority of members shall represent coastal communities. In 2008, the R.I. Supreme Court determined that under the “so called separation of powers amendment,” the legislature could not, in fact, appoint members or serve on the Council. However, the General Assembly did not amend the law to change the membership of the Council or the appointing authority. The Council currently consists of 10 members appointed by the governor, including the director of the Department of Environmental Management.
“We sought information from the governor’s office and reviewed the appointing papers of the members of the Council. The governor’s office was unable to provide us with evidence that the Council includes members who were elected or appointed officials at the time of their appointment or that the majority of members represent coastal communities. It is our understanding that the governor’s office is retroactively working toward securing appointed positions for some members of the Council, which may technically meet the requirement of the law but circumvents its intent. It also appears that the governor may have exceeded her authority by appointing more than the eight allowable by law,” Stone said.
According to the Save The Bay complaint, “The issue before this court is one of statutory interpretation, a pure question of law…. The declaration sought by Save The Bay in this Petition would terminate the confusion over the appointment authority of the governor and provide certainty with respect to the number of Council members and their qualifications.” Save The Bay contends that prior to the separation of powers amendment, makeup of the Council was clear, but that post-separation of powers, the composition of the Council is unclear.
“The Coastal Resources Management Council has jurisdiction over critically important decisions affecting Rhode Island, and as such, the composition of the Council is a matter of public trust and public resources, particularly for people who live in or use coastal areas affected by Council decisions,” said Stone. “While Save The Bay has serious concerns about the current structure of the agency, we are today seeking clarity about the makeup of the Council and the number and qualifications of the governor’s appointments to ensure that Rhode Island’s coastal communities and coastal users are properly represented, as was clearly the intention of the law.”
March Unemployment Rate Decreases to 4.5 Percent; Rhode Island-Based Jobs down 500 from February
EMBARGOED until 10 AM on Thursday, April 19, 2018
March Unemployment Rate Decreases to 4.5 Percent; Rhode Island-Based Jobs down 500 from February
The RI Department of Labor and Training announced today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2018 was 4.5 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the revised February rate of 4.6 percent. Over the year, the unemployment rate is up one-tenth of a percentage point from the March 2017 rate of 4.4 percent.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in March 2018, unchanged from the previous month and down four-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
The number of unemployed RI residents — those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment —was 25,300, down 100 from February. Over the year, the number of unemployed increased by 800.
A total of 11,656 individuals collected Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in March 2018 *, down from 13,010 a year ago. This month, UI claimants accounted for 43.9 percent of the total unemployed.
The number of employed RI residents was 532,700, an increase of 700 from the February figure of 532,000. Over the year, the number of employed RI residents was up 4,200 from March 2017 (528,500).
The RI labor force totaled 558,000 in March 2018, up 600 from February 2018 and up 4,900 from March 2017 (553,100).
JOBS BASED IN RHODE ISLAND: In March, Rhode Island’s nonfarm payroll employment level of 498,300 was down by 500 from the revised February employment level of 498,800. The number of Rhode Island based jobs are up 6,400 from March 2017.
The number of jobs in the Construction sector fell by 500 in March, marking the first job loss within this sector over the past ten months. Employment in the Construction sector is up 300 from a year ago.
Health Care & Social Assistance employment declined by 400 in March, after declining by 300 in February. Despite the two consecutive months of job declines, Health Care & Social Assistance employment is up 1,200 over the year.
In March, Accommodation & Food Services employment decreased by 300, and the Educational Services and Financial Activities sectors each reported a loss of 200 jobs over the month. Educational Services employment has fallen for four consecutive months, shedding 800 jobs, and is down by 900 from March 2017. Over the year, the number of jobs in Financial Activities and Accommodation & Food Services are up 600 and 100, respectively.
Payrolls in Manufacturing fell by 100 for the third straight month, but the overall job count in the Manufacturing sector is still up 900 from a year ago.
Mar 18
RI Unemployment Rate 4.5% U.S. Unemployment Rate 4.1% RI Job Count (in thousands) 498.3Highlights:
Feb 18
4.6% 4.1% 498.8
Mar 17
4.4% 4.5% 491.9
- The RI unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, down one- tenth of a percentage point from last month and up one- tenth of a percentage point from a year ago.
- The number of RI-based jobs are down 500 from February, but up 6,400 from a year ago.
- The number of employed RI residents increased by 700 over the month.
DLT Administrative Offices: 1511 Pontiac Ave., Cranston RI 02920 www.dlt.ri.gov
PRESS RELEASE
Monthly Employment March 2018, page 2 of 2
Offsetting some of the March job decline was a gain of 500 jobs reported in the Professional & Business Services sector. Most of the job gains within this sector can be attributed to gains in the Administrative & Waste Services subsector. The number of jobs in the Professional & Business Services sector are up 3,000 over the year.
Both the Government and Retail Trade sectors added 200 jobs in March, with each sector being up 200 jobs from a year ago.
Finally, the Other Services, Transportation & Utilities and Wholesale Trade sectors all reported a gain of 100 jobs each in March. The Other Services and Transportation & Utilities sectors are up 600 and 400 jobs, respectively, from a year ago, while employment in Wholesale Trade was up 100 from a year ago.
Employment in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation and Information sectors was unchanged from February, but down 100 and 200 respectively, from March 2017. Mining & Logging employment remained unchanged over the month and unchanged over the year.
MANUFACTURING: In March 2018, production workers in the Manufacturing sector earned $19.41 per hour, up fifty-three cents from February 2018, and up forty-eight cents from March 2017.
Manufacturing employees worked an average of 38.3 hours per week in March, down two and six-tenths hours over the month, and down one and one-tenths hours from a year ago.
METHODOLOGY: The unemployment figures are based largely on a survey of households in Rhode Island and measure the unemployment status of people who live in the state. Unemployment rates prior to 1976 are not recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as official since the methodology used at that time is not comparable to today’s methods. The establishment of employment figures is derived from a survey of businesses in Rhode Island and measures the number of jobs in the state. Rhode Island labor market information is available at www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi. Additional information on procedures for producing Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/sae/cesprocs.htm. BLS will be releasing all states’ March labor force data and job counts on April 20, 2018. DLT is scheduled to release the April 2018 labor force figures and job counts on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.
ABOUT DLT: The RI Department of Labor and Training offers employment services, educational services and economic opportunities to both individuals and employers. DLT protects Rhode Island’s workforce by enforcing labor laws, prevailing wage rates and workplace health and safety standards. The department also provides temporary income support to unemployed and temporarily disabled workers. For more information, please call the RI Department of Labor and Training at (401) 462-8000 or visit the website at www.dlt.ri.gov.
DLT Administrative Offices: 1511 Pontiac Ave., Cranston RI 02920 www.dlt.ri.gov
SENEDIA
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SENEDIA 2018 -2019 STEM Scholarship
SENEDIA will be awarding two $1500 scholarships to students who are pursuing studies related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career paths. These areas of study are the backbone of the skills and experiences that are important elements in supporting the future national security and defense sector workforce.
Student applicants must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Southeastern New England (RI, MA, CT); entering their 4th semester of study (or later equivalent) in the 2018-2019 academic year; and a matriculating student enrolled in a STEM-related field at an accredited college or university located in the U.S.
Recognition will be awarded to any student related to a SENEDIA member or who is working for a SENEDIA member company.
Scholarship applications are available on the SENEDIA website, www.senedia.org/news-features/scholarship-program/. The deadline for applications is Friday, 25 May 2018.
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SENEDIA Member News
Congratulations to SENEDIA members recently announced as 2018 Rhode Island Small Business Award winners by the U.S. Small Business Administration!
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New SENEDIA Members
HCH Enterprises, LLC (HCH) is an IT Consulting, Engineering and Technical Services Company certified as an 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business. Founded in 1986, HCH was incorporated in Rhode Island in 2001. HCH specializes in: Enterprise Architecture; Network Infrastructure Support; System Security; Software and Database Services; and COOP and Disaster Recovery.
NeQter Labs, LLC provides adaptive, cost-efficient cybersecurity solutions to address the NIST SP 800-171 compliance orders. NeQter Labs’ cybersecurity, IT, and engineering professionals have developed an approach that is beneficial to companies of all sizes; combining dedicated hardware, custom software, and knowledgeable support services. |
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Upcoming Events
Tech Talk: Cyber Espionage Against Maritime Targets
Thursday, 26 April 2018, 7:30-10:00 AM
The Atlantic Resort, Middletown, RI Presented by Brandon Catalan, CISSP, CCE; Security Principal, Cyber Espionage Intelligence Engineer, with iDEFENSE, part of Accenture Security, this discussion will dive into recent cyber espionage activity against maritime-related targets across multiple verticals, including engineering firms, shipping and transportation, manufacturing, defense, government offices, and research universities. Register here
RI Women in Science & Engineering Networking Wednesday, 2 May 2018, 4-6 PM The Atlantic Resort, Middletown, RI
Holly Ridgeway, the Executive Vice President and Chief Security Officer of Citizens Financial Group, will be the guest speaker. Light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar; cost is $15. Register here for RIWISE Networking
Tech Talk: U.S. Army Research Lab
Thursday, 24 May 2018
The Pell Center Salve Regina University
Details and registration coming soon.
SENEDIA Annual Golf Tournament
Monday, 18 June 2018, 1 PM Shotgun Start
Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club, Middletown RI
Join SENEDIA members and staff for a relaxing afternoon of golf along the Narragansett Bay’s East Passage. 1:00 PM (Shotgun Start), scramble format with prizes, plus raffle prizes! More information and register now for SENEDIA golf tournament.
Monday-Wednesday, 27-29 August 2018 Platinum Sponsors 
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The application for the 2018 Wavemaker Fellowship is now live!
The Wavemaker Fellowship program is an incentive that provides student loan debt relief (up to $6k/year!) to professionals who work for companies in RI, in a STEM or commercially relevant design function. Applications for the Fellowship program will be accepted until Friday, June 15, 2018.
The Wavemaker Fellowship program website containing all info, and the link to apply, is: https://wavemaker.commerceri.com/
Any questions about the program should be directed to wavemaker@commerceri.com |
