Housing in America is about to get more expensive, thanks to new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump that will take effect this Wednesday, October 1. www.vox.com/policy/46311...

🏹🎯

Huge congratulations to Melissa Cherney, the new CEO of @rifoodbank.bsky.social. It's inspiring to see the incredible work the Food Bank and its partners, like Good Neighbors RI, do to fight hunger in our state. Wishing her the best of luck in her new role. www.eastbayri.com/east-provide...

Looking forward to the next one! Thank you to our sponsors and co-hosts @growsmartri.bsky.social and @strongtowns.org Providence.

Our first film night, courtesy of Better Cities Film Festival curation was inspirational! After several entertaining, thought-provoking, and insightful short films, we were treated to a rousing panel discussion and Q+A.

Inspiring night at the Block by Block Film Series watching shorts from the Better Cities Film Festival. Great to see folks discussing housing, safer streets, & equitable development. Kudos to the organizers: @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social, @growsmartri.bsky.social, & @strongtowns.org Greater PVD

Had a great time going with my spouse, Jimmy Pimentel, to the Block by Block film series screening. A perspective mentioned during the panel, that doesn't get shared much, is the public health aspect of city and town design. (1/3)

The films showcased exciting and practical ideas for how we can make our cities healthier, more walkable, and friendly to everyone. Hearing from the panel and audience reinforced that we have tangible tools at our disposal to strengthen our cities and towns. (2/2)

It was great to attend the Block by Block film series this evening, organized by @growsmartri.bsky.social, @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social, @strongtowns.org Greater Providence, and the Better Cities Film Festival. I thank them for putting on such an impactful film screening. (1/2)

We're excited for this free showing of BLOCK BY BLOCK! Let's fight for better, healthier cities & towns. Let's fight for a stronger East Providence. A stronger Rhode Island. For all of us.

This Thursday, September 25th, we're Iintroducing BLOCK BY BLOCK: A Rhode Island Film Series for Better, Healthier Cities–curated by Better Cities Film Festival! Join us here: bit.ly/4nirlMc

"Regulation of housing is important. But regulations shouldn’t be so onerous as to block housing development altogether." www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/21/o...

There is a housing shortage in our region of the country & outdated regulations like mandatory dual staircases only add to construction costs — which are then passed on to folks who are already struggling. Let's take steps in RI to legalize single staircases! www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/21/o...

Had a great time at the East Providence Democratic Committee Fundraiser at Lucky's tonight. So glad to have caught up with great friends and wonderful people!

I applaud the East Providence City Council for reducing the minimum lot size to 5k sqft for ADUs, down from their initial 7.5k sqft proposal (and the state's 20k!). This will help create more housing options for our community. www.eastbayri.com/stories/east...

1 in 4 homes in RI are bought from folks out of state. No one can solve the housing crisis alone — it's important for Rhode Islanders, too, that Boston builds more homes. Compact development is a win-win: more housing and less suburban sprawl that bulldozes greenspace.

@thejeremylevine.bsky.social on Substack

"While I applaud our Council for lowering the requirement, as the law currently stands, a large number of residents will still need to comply with antiquated setback and coverage requirements when considering an ADU. Because of this, ADUs are legal on paper but not in practice."

✅Free speech ✅Rule of law ✅LGBTQ+ rights ✅Separate church and state ✅Support Ukraine ✅YIMBYism ✅Nuclear power ✅Open immigration ✅Free trade ✅Free markets ✅Deregulation ✅Democracy ✅Gun rights :) yes to all of the above

So glad I could be with The Challenge Team & the New England Witches Guild to honor those we lost on 9/11 24 years ago today. We honored them with an honor challenge, a community beach cleanup, and stocking a local pantry. Doing good things even on a dark day.

We agree with Charlie Kirk on basically nothing. Except that he deserves the right, as every human does, to speak freely without the threat of violence.

Very happy with how EPiC's website turned out.

Let's work towards housing abundance. 🩵🏘️

The shooter literally had the minimalist “Loss” meme on their rifle. You cannot take anything this person said or did at face value. It’s all so deep soaked in irony and toxic fandom culture that if you aren’t actually researching this stuff for a living you really shouldn’t be engaging with it.

Immigration is the central issue of our century and progressives must defend it or lose absolutely everything to fascism

❤️⚽

Enjoyed watching a great soccer match tonight – and also got to capture the moment Rhode Island FC scored their winning goal against Birmingham. ⚽️

This is what the military is doing to trans members right now.

“The existence of the ban creates a situation where enforcement is selective and often complaint-driven,” [Ruarri Miller] said. “That means a neighbor can use this ordinance, not because of a legitimate problem, but as a tool of retribution when there is some unrelated disagreement.”

We're incredibly grateful to have worked with @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social this session in advocating for statewide policies that take steps towards addressing our housing crisis. We appreciate the leadership shown in the State House, particularly regarding crucial housing initiatives. (1/2)

We're also proud of the progress we've made locally in our city in advancing pro-housing discussions, thanks to the proactive and productive engagement of city leadership. Onward. 🩵🏠 (2/2)

Link here: www.eastbayri.com/east-provide...

Check out today’s East Providence Post cover! An interview with EPiC’s Mélodie Pimentel and Jimmy Dufurrena, a GenZ couple with deep roots in East Providence and a simple, but sadly unattainable, dream of buying their first home in East Providence. 🏡🩵 Link below Or pick up a paper copy.

Cities like Austin, Texas are not only leading the way in building housing, and driving down housing costs for working people — they also allow chickens in most residential areas in the city!

Lending my support to the backyard chicken ordinance! I intend on speaking in favor of its passage at tomorrow's City Council meeting. Let's create a legal pathway for responsible chicken ownership in East Providence.

Wow. In 2023, far-right extremist groups in Portugal had received weapons training by the military for a scenario involving civil war. In a recent investigation, law enforcement detained 6 individuals and seized a large arsenal of weaponry, incl. 3D printed firearms. www.publico.pt/2025/07/11/s...

We wonder why folks are lonelier than ever, why folks are more atomized than ever, why folks have fewer relationships than ever — THIS is why. They're making it impossible to exist outside of your home without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money. They are killing the Third Place.

Are you aware that private equity, in addition to destroying numerous other venerable US institutions, is now going after public libraries?

“If [the government] is not going to follow basic standards, you file it every bleeping time.” newbedfordlight.org/detained-imm...

How do we survive the next few years of the Trump administration? How do we protect our vulnerable neighbors from the threat that the federal government poses to them? I believe the answer lies in local and state sovereignty. It lies in a practical and passionate defense of the Tenth Amendment.

I submitted the following testimony in support of East Providence's proposed ordinance that would allow for the permitting of backyard chickens. Let's get this passed! 🐔🐓 Read below 👇

Read about the abhorrent conditions posted by @philliparroyo.bsky.social, one of the lawyers representing a client detained at the "Alligator Alcatraz."

ICE detained a DACA recipient for allegedly driving w/a suspended license. The charges were resolved, and yet, they ship him anyway to "Alligator Alcatraz."He alleges inhumane conditions incl. swarming mosquitos, rotten food & lack of access to legal counsel. www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2...

I am saddened to hear of Alan Hassenfeld's passing. He truly cared for our state and its people, touching countless lives along the way. Alan has left an incredibly legacy, and it's on all of us to continue it.

I attended the budget workshop for the East Providence School Committee on Monday. I learned that the federal gov't withheld (approximately) $500K in frozen Title 2, 3, & 4 funds from East Providence. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/09/m...

Haven’t had a particularly great day, but I did get to commiserate and strategize for a while this morning with @melodiepimen.tel about building a community more people can afford to live in!

This. Let's fight for an East Providence we can afford 👇

Finally got to weeding the @epicri.org traffic island in East Providence! Plants from @pricklyedscactus.bsky.social and @bloomrhodeisland.org are looking good (we made it through the massive heat!). Watch for plant ID signage and a bespoke birdhouse coming to the space.

If we want to win back working-class voters, we need leaders who will put working people at the center of their vision. That's what Zohran Mamdani did.