A warm congratulations to Melissa Cherney on her new role as CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Cherney recently visited a local organization, Good Neighbors RI. Their efforts make a tangible difference for folks in our community and beyond. Thank you for all that you do.

Why, yes, I am the world's #1 Heathcliff fan. How did you guess? 😂

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

There is a housing shortage in our region of the country & outdated regulations like mandatory dual staircases only add to construction costs — which are then passed on to folks who are already struggling.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...

Enjoyed the beautiful weather and community at Smithfield Sportsman's Club 92nd Annual Field Day & got to catch up with a good friend David Fasteson. Enjoyed archery, tomahawk throwing, darts, hay rides, & more. Events like these, full of friends and neighbors, are at the heart of our communities.

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...

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!

@thejeremylevine.bsky.social on Substack

Check out @jimpimentel.bsky.social's letter to the editor on how there's more to be done to make ADUs a truly viable housing option for EP residents. We encourage you to read the letter & join the discussion on how we can create more housing options for all: reportertoday.com/eastproviden...?

I shared my thoughts on East Providence's new ADU ordinance in a letter to the editor. It's a step in the right direction, but we need to do more to make ADUs a viable option for our residents. You can read it here: reportertoday.com/eastproviden...

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.

Land that had an obsolete, one-story printing press building was transformed into a mixed-use area; where the land was previously bringing in only $70,000 in property tax, it now brings in $700,000.

Proud to see my hometown — which was named the "strongest town" in 2019 by the Strongest Town Contest — invest in making downtown a place to gather and build community. This is what happens when we invest in intentional, thoughtful growth. This is how we make our cities & towns fiscally resilient.

Let's work towards housing abundance. 🩵🏘️

Yay. We 🩵🚌. Let's fund public transit & make @ripta.com stronger.

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

The only way out of a transit death spiral is that you get enough elected officials who possess spines strong enough to spend money and build a system people will use. There is no other solution. You cannot cut your public transit system to greatness. As in all things, you get what you pay for.

We had a wonderful time connecting w/neighbors at Neighborhood Day! So great chatting with neighbors about our volunteer projects & our mission to advocate for inclusive schools & for creating more housing opportunities so that people can afford to live & thrive right here in our community 🩵🏡.

Today, myself and other community members with EPiC held a table at Neighborhood Day. I enjoyed talking with and hearing from neighbors in regards to the need for high quality public education and how we must do our part in addressing the cost of living crisis in our city.

I went out to the ribbon cutting of Kent Park yesterday — and was encouraged by the community turnout. Our parks are a crucial third place — a location that is separate from our home (the 1st place) & work (the 2nd place). Third places foster social interaction & increase belonging in our city.

EPiC members testified tonight against RIPTA's proposed service cuts. We oppose these changes, which will disproportionately harm our most vulnerable residents. We'll keep fighting for a reliable transit system for all! 🩵🚌 Watch our testimony here: www.facebook.com/eastproviden...

Tonight, I spoke at the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's public hearing in opposition to the proposed service cuts. "A budget is a set of priorities, and our most vulnerable in our society are being deprioritized."

Nearly half a decade ago, I told my wife that I would take her last name. Today, that day has finally come! My experience at Social Security was surprisingly quick and painless. Hopefully my experience at the DMV will be the same way.

This is a great opportunity for young folks in our city to get civically involved 🏛️ and to learn how to engage in our democracy! 🇺🇸 Civic engagement is a duty of citizenship.

Happy Friday, Rhode Island! Before heading into the weekend, call Governor McKee’s office and urge him to find funding for RIPTA to avert these severe service cuts. Transit is essential!! 🙏🏽🚌

Proud to see a rare moment of Congress advancing legislation that addresses the concerns of everyday folks — this bill contains many provisions that would help address the housing crisis and encourage affordability. www.politico.com/live-updates...

EPiC members quoted on the front page of the Post for the second week in a row. Ruarri Miller talks about experience raising hens in EP. EPiC supports allowing East Providence residents to legally own hens, just like all of our neighboring cities. 🐓 🩵 Article and PDF linked in thread below. 🧵

Check out this story regarding the housing crisis & how it impacts young families like mine. Pricing folks out of our city isn't the answer Instead, policymakers must use the tools available to them in addressing our city's housing and cost of living crisis. 👇 www.eastbayri.com/east-provide...

Legalize Kei trucks in Rhode Island. #fujifilm #instax #photography

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)

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.

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.

We're excited to back our neighbors in their efforts to legalize backyard chickens in East Providence. 🩵🐔 Join us at the East Providence City Council meeting on July 15 at 6:30 PM to show your support. Your voice makes a difference! www.facebook.com/events/71086...

It’s time we fight for a city we can afford. The cost of living crisis has squeezed families throughout East Providence, as home prices and rents have soared the past few years. But it doesn’t have to be this way. (1/3)

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 Aaron, who is the most reasonable, measured person on social media and who I know IRL, get this mad, you should too. This decision is in contravention of every American ideal, law, and policy, and it violates every sense of morality and decency.

East Providence: It's time to get big government out of our backyards. Let's legalize backyard chickens.

Captured these beautiful pictures of Providence, RI this weekend while at Pridefest 2025. #instax #fujifilm #fujifilmphotography #photography

Marched with @melodiepimen.tel at RI Pridefest's parade, in support of striking Butler Hospital workers at 1199 SEIU Rhode Island. 💛💜💛💜

Enjoying the day at Pridefest with @melodiepimen.tel.

We had an EPiC night out at Union Square Bistro in Riverside for East Providence's Restaurant Week! Great food and vibes. Restaurant Week is still on for a few more days — don’t miss it! #eprestaurantweek

Took this photo of a rooftop garden in Cambridge, MA. #fujifilmphotography #instax

"The fact that Rhode Island has a housing shortage is well documented. We need to build approximately 24,000 additional homes just to meet the demand of our current residents. The good news is that there are tested & popular solutions to the problems we face." www.valleybreeze.com/opinion/lett...

Building more isn't just about bringing down home prices. It is also a proven way to drive rents downward for renters. "The chief reason behind Austin’s falling rents, real estate experts and housing advocates said, is a massive apartment building boom..." www.texastribune.org/2025/01/22/a...

"The Northeast is not making any measurable progress in addressing the demand for housing. Meanwhile, the South is only three years away from closing their housing gap. Cities like Austin, Texas have seen a drop of 7% in the median home price because of rapid building."