Then Again...What Do I Know?

Local commentary by Roger Bouchard as published in the Woonsocket Call on February 07, 2008

Woonsocket/Cumberland

The first and perhaps the only candidate to seek the seat left behind by the late senator Roger Badeau made his intentions known yesterday. Representative Roger A. Picard intends to run in the upcoming special election for Senate District 20 in Woonsocket and Cumberland on April 22. Picard who has 16 years of legislative experience explained that he will be able to expand his constituent service by seeking the Senate seat. Picard also believes that in a smaller chamber of only 38 senators he could “more efficiently affect change using the legislative process.” Picard currently holds the position of vice chairman of the Corporations Committee and is a member of the Labor Committee. He also serves as a deputy majority leader. We’ll know soon who is interested in the office by Friday afternoon as today and tomorrow are the only days to declare their candidacy at the board of canvassers.

Woonsocket

Woonsocket’s newest condo project called Peters River Residence is in full swing within steps of WNRI here on Diamond Hill Road. Christa Griffin of Griffin Realty LLC told me 36 new condos spread over 4 acres with three buildings will be available for occupancy this spring. The builder from Stoughton Massachusetts will offer the properties from $119,900 to 129,900. Griffin told me there will be 12 units in each building with 2 bedrooms, bath and open kitchen and living room space. Griffin explained some condos will have balconies with science views of the river and woodlands adjacent to the property. Readers may remember the Star Carbonizing mill that occupied the site and seeing this land cleaned up and improved and the city realizing new tax revenues is a step forward for the once abandoned site.

Pawtucket

Last week I wrote that Congressman Patrick Kennedy held his Winter Celebration for his supporters at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center 2 weeks ago. Patrick hired a photographer to take photos of the people who came to visit. Here is Patrick, my mother and me hobnobbing with each other at the event. In this photo Patrick has just complained to my mother for my uncharitable remarks spoken on the radio and in the newspaper about his political views.

North Smithfield

Congratulations to Representative Raymond Church for introducing legislation to build a court house in Lincoln that has absolutely has no support in Northern Rhode Island. In an interview on WNRI Friday, Church wants to rescind legislative approval to spend 70 million dollars to build the structure. Citing severe cash shortfalls, Church says the timing wrong. The bill is headed to the house finance committee and if eventually approved could save 7 million annually for 20 years. Not one leader in the area came in favor of the project.

Woonsocket

Movie Actor Richard Gere began filming the movie Hachiko this week in Bristol at the house where his character lives in the film. Here in Woonsocket, Depot Square toward High Street will be closed to traffic during the day as the film set changes to Woonsocket next week. The production company has rented storefronts in the Longley building and set up a book store and a music store using signage for Al Drew’s Music. It is expected the crew will be here 3 weeks filming scenes using at the historic train depot and the High street stores. In a WNRI interview this week, Mayor Susan Menard was told that members of the Woonsocket Police union may picket the movie site to dramatize their concerns about the “lack of communication” between the Chief and his command staff. She warned she would outside security detail if the local cops chose to withhold their services.

Cleveland

Do you remember when this issue almost became law in Rhode Island? Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order last week allowing certain child care workers paid through state programs the right to unionize. The directive was the second of its kind since July, when the Democratic governor gave similar collective bargaining rights to some home health care workers paid by the state. The governor -- whose campaign was strongly backed by labor -- has countered that unionizing would give the workers the chance at better wages and job conditions, the same argument advanced by union friendly proponents before Rhode Island taxpayers caught up with issue and turned it back.

Woonsocket

Woonsocket Councilman Roger Jalette complained Monday night about a city hall directive that cutoff city clerk Pauline’s Payuer’s access to computer’s in the finance department. Jalette was informed that the clerk would routinely secure information for council members on city finances from her link to the finance department. When council members turned the heat up on getting financial information, the administration responded by turning off the data link. Jalette asked the city’s new solicitor for a legal opinion on whether denying a duly elected council member financial information is legal or illegal. For a free pizza from Olly’s Pizza, what year will the requested legal answer reach Mr. Jalette? A. 2008 b. 2012 c. 2525 d. 1944

ROGER BOUCHARD is general manager of radio station WNRI. His column appears every Thursday in the Woonsocket Call. He can be reached at rogerwnri@prodigy.net.

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Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895-1476

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Then Again...What Do I Know?

Local commentary by Roger Bouchard as published in the Woonsocket Call on February 07, 2008

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