Lawmakers are listening. Make sure they hear from you! Send a letter of support to let your elected leaders know: We Stand Up for More Homes! More details here: actionnetwork.org/letters/thre...

By using a memorandum to direct officers to treat standard inland filings as heavily weighted "adverse factors", USCIS is attempting to create a binding, restrictive norm without going through formal notice-and-comment rulemaking. (3/3)

When an agency changes a long-standing policy, the Supreme Court (DHS v. Regents of the University of California) has made it clear that they must account for reliance interests that have built up around the old policy. (2/3)

🚨 🚨 🚨 NEW: A shocking @USCIS memo seems to declare that hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in this country and applying for green cards must instead apply for visas abroad; which could MASSIVELY disrupt lives. 🧵 on what we know, and what we don’t.

Fantastic progress at the State House! 🙌 We are thrilled to see the Faith-Based Affordable Housing bill clear the Senate committee and move forward. Let’s keep this momentum going. Next stop: the Rhode Island House of Representatives!

This legislation would help open the door for faith communities to create much-needed affordable homes across Rhode Island by allowing residential development on underused religious property. A small zoning change with the potential for a big community impact.

The Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government meets today at the rise of the Senate (sometime after 4:30 p.m.) in Room 212 on the second floor of the State House. More: www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease... Agenda: status.rilegislature.gov/documents/ag... Watch: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

BREAKING: First Circuit DENIES Rhode Island Child Advocate's request for an injunction barring R.I. Hospital from providing anonymized docs responsive to DOJ's administrative subpoena to Judge O'Connor in camera — finding the Child Advocate did not show irreparable harm under these circumstances.

Had a powerful day at the State House for @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social's Lobby Day! We spent the afternoon helping constituents connect with their lawmakers to advocate for bills to expand housing opportunities & public transit. I'm so excited to organize alongside such passionate neighbors. 💚🏘️

Another excellent Lobby Day on the books! Thanks for turning out to support public transportation and Standing Up for New Homes. Great to collaborate with AARP RI, The Save RIPTA Coalition, @pvdstreets.org @growsmartri.bsky.social

I joined @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social for their Lobby Day to advocate for more housing options in our state, specifically urging legislators to support Faith-Based Affordable Housing and Conversion Incentives.

“My biggest takeaway was the absolute necessity of building diverse, intersectional coalitions,” says Mélodie. (1/3)

Yesterday, I traveled to Boston to attend the @welcomingneighbors.us Northeast Gathering with my friends at @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social. It was exciting to hear and learn from other housing advocates throughout the East coast! (1/2)

Tonight, we showed up in support of the resolution adopting the East Providence Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan. 🛡️ The plan proposes clear strategies, projects, and policy recommendations to improve roadway safety for all users. #EastProvidence #SafeStreets (1/4)

Today at 1:00!! Meet along the East Bay Bike Path near Borealis Coffee for a spin around East Providence! See you soon, fam! 😘

We also invite you to join us for Fam Jam - East Providence Family Bike Ride on Saturday, May 2nd at 1:00pm: It’s going to be a fun, family-friendly ride through the heart of Riverside. 🎈🚲 4/4

Tonight we hosted the first installment of our Community Education Series at Riverside Branch Library: "How to Advocate for Better Transportation in East Providence." 🚲 1/4

Join us tomorrow (4/20/26) from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Riverside Branch Library for the first installment of our Community Education Series. Our first session will feature Sam Archer and Dylan Giles, two awesome advocates for biking, walking, and RIPTA. 🚲🚶‍♂️🚌 RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/14655...

Had a great dinner last night at Big Mikes Smokehouse! Fantastic smashburgers served by friendly staff. 😋🍔 So grateful we have this small business in East Providence.

Good times

• When forced to choose, 69% of respondents believe building more homes is more important than preserving "neighborhood character." 🏗️ • There is overwhelming support for solutions, ranging from 90% approval for building conversions to broad majority support for parking reforms. 🚗 (4/5)

Poll Toplines: Rhode Islanders Demand Action 📈 • 91% of residents agree that housing is a significant problem across Rhode Island. 🚨 • 61% strongly agree that the state legislature must take decisive action on housing. ⚖ (3/5)

Today, @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social held a press conference at East Providence City Hall releasing the results of their housing poll. We thank @bobdasilva.bsky.social, State Rep. June Speakman, & State Sen. @meghankallman.bsky.social for being there for the release of this important poll. (1/5)

Took a day trip to Brunswick, Maine yesterday via Amtrak's Downeaster from North Station in Boston. Enjoyed exploring the town, including Bowdoin's art museum, along with local parks. Pictures below 👇 (1/2)

“The right size for RIPTA is the size where a bus comes when you need it, and promptly delivers you to the place you need to go. The right size for a vision for Rhode Island is one that dreams big, and delivers, not one that tells people just to wait a little longer.”

Yesterday, I took a trip with my wife on Amtrak's Downeaster to the end of the line in Brunswick, Maine. We explored the walkable downtown, visited the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, & crossed the Swinging Bridge. #lomoinstantsquare #lomography #instax #amtrak #instaxmini #photography

🙌We’re bringing Bike Joy to EP! 🚲Pump up those tires and get pumped for a spin through the streets of East Providence on May 2nd, a family friendly, fun event for all ages!

Spotted in Brunswick, Maine on a Neighborhood Crime Watch sign: a Trump/Epstein sticker above a notice encouraging residents to report all suspicious persons and activities 🤣

ONE WEEK AWAY: We hope you will be able to join us for our Earth Day Clean Up at Veterans Memorial Parkway on Saturday, April 18th from 1-3pm.

Absolutely remarkable statement from Pope Leo today. One for the history books www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

🙌 A huge shoutout to @pvdstreets.bsky.social for listening to EPiC’s advocacy and bringing Fam Jam to the streets of East Providence! This ride is also made possible with support from RI Depth. of Health's Healthy Eating & Active Living Program. 4/6

So excited for this bike ride through my hometown! I hope you are able to join me. :)

ICE shot another person. Based on their track record, there is no reason to blindly believe and echo their claim that their victim was related to gangs. They have routinely lied so, sadly, we need to routinely question their version of accounts. www.ktvu.com/news/ice-sho...

IN TWO WEEKS: Join us for our very first Community Education Series on April 20 at Riverside Branch Library! 🗓️✨ Our first session will feature Sam Archer and Dylan Giles, two awesome advocates for biking, walking, and RIPTA. 🚲🚶‍♂️🚌 RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/14655...

We agree! We're grateful to have a bold housing champion in East Providence. Thank you, @bobdasilva.bsky.social.

Thursday, April 2nd, the Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government will hear two of our bills: Technical Fixes (S2907) and Small-lot Size Reform (S2265). Read more and submit written testimony here: www.neighborswelcomeri.org/resources/bi...

Today is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) — and my message is simple: we are human. We are your neighbors, your friends, your loved ones. 🩵 🩷 🤍 🩷 🩵 (attached: pictures of me cycling and enjoying the beautiful weather we had today)

You can stick some stamps on a potato and the Post Office will mail it, you think the President has the authority to ban them from carrying election mail which is completely lawful? Ha! What a waste of taxpayer money. Just disgraceful stuff.

A crazily unconstitutional effort to seize control of elections from states by seeking to have the USPS put in place rules to ban the transmission of mail-in ballots that don't form to standards the Trump admin puts into place and for people the Trump admin hasn't verified as a citizen.

Today is the Transgender Day of Visibility and I'll take the opportunity to once again say that trans people matter, their lives have meaning, and what's being done to them by so many politicians and people in this country is wrong.

This is only the opening act. Conservative and liberal justices threw trans folks under the bus, all for where this is heading: the deregulation of professional licensure for many professions. John Carbin v. Town of Savoy, Massachusetts is the next stop for SCOTUS.

Immigration is awesome.

Just like clockwork: Right after the Portuguese center-right and far-right teamed up to scapegoat trans folks, immigrants and naturalized citizens are next. There is no bottom to their depravity.

In American terms imagine if we did all that stuff to lock Trump up for good after January 6th and then in 2024 Donald Trump Jr. just beats Joe Biden fair and square on a platform that includes getting his daddy out of prison

If developers always build up to the maximum (density, height, etc.) that’s allowed in your city, that’s a sign that your zoning rules are substantially restricting housing supply.

"In East Providence, over 100 people gathered outside City Hall. They joined millions of Americans across the country protesting the administration’s authoritarian actions. Protesters waved 'No Kings' signs at passersby. Drivers honked and waved back." steveahlquist.substack.com/p/melodie-pi...

Check out my coverage of the "No Kings" protest in East Providence yesterday, featured in @steveahlquist.bsky.social's Substack. "The people are standing up," said organizer @libbymerrill.bsky.social. "We do not want oligarchs running the country." (1/2)

Mélodie Pimentel: A report from the East Providence No Kings event "The people are standing up,” said organizer Libby Merrill. “We do not want oligarchs running the country.” steveahlquist.substack.com/p/melodie-pi...

Today's No Kings protest in East Providence was a powerful demonstration of courage and leadership from folks in our community. I'm proud to have attended this demonstration alongside them. Pictures taken on a Lomo’ Instant Square Glass Camera.

East Providence showed up today! Over 100 residents turned up and united to say that the power belongs with the people, not the elite. Thank you to all of the EPiC members who came out and the new faces. Thank you also to @bobdasilva.bsky.social for joining us. 🚫👑