Bartholomewtown News II: The Debate Debacle

Original photo from Uprise RI

Bill Bartholomew


With less than one month to go before the Wednesday September 12th Rhode Island primaries, much of the focus this past week has been on the candidates’ varying degrees of interest in pre-primary debates.  

With a massive advantage in both campaign dollars and polling numbers, Governor Gina Raimondo laughed off a question about the possibility of debating fellow Democrat Matt Brown, despite media members, Brown’s campaign and individual citizens expressing that such a debate is critical to an open democratic process and part of the Governor’s civic duty.

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While all indicators point to Democratic primary without public debate, Republican gubernatorial candidates Patricia Morgan, Giovanni Feroce and Allan Fung have agreed to debate each other on The John DePetro Show, spurning an offer from WPRI television in favor of the longtime Rhode Island conservative talk radio host’s midday program, flagshipped on WNRI.  Stay with Bartholomewtown for the latest on The Republican gubernatorial primary debate, which will be held on Friday August 31st at noon.

990WBOB’s  own Tyler Salk caught up with some gubernatorial candidates on the frustrations of organizing debates this primary season.

One last note on the topic, Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee has indicated that he will not debate his primary opponent, Representative Aaron Regunberg.  You may, however, listen to in-depth interviews with each candidate on The Bartholomewtown Podcast, and read my feature column on the race in this week’s print edition of Motif Magazine.  While there may not be a debate between the two, my hope is that the various Bartholomewtown content that has been produced about the race can serve as a primer to potential voters.

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FROM GANSETT TOWN BEACH TO LIVE A&E:

For years, I’ve been keeping an eye on The Town of Narragansett’s policy to charge beachgoers for access to Town Beach, but the situation heated up earlier this year when The Town announced exorbitant seasonal rate increases for non-residents.  While I hold the position that any beach access fee is in violation of The Rhode Island State Constitution, an unrelated matter involving one of the key advocates for the fees reminded me to reexamine the issue now that I’ve launched Bartholomewtown.  

Town Council President Susan Cicilline-Buonanno was involved in a bizarre incident this past week, in which she was pulled over by Warwick Police during the filming of a live, national television show on A&E network.  While the officer involved ultimately ruled that the council president was not suspected of DUI, video shows Ms. Cicilline-Buonanno driving erratically, and she seems struggle at first to complete elements of the field sobriety tests that she was engaged in.  In spite of not placing her into custody on suspicion of DUI, the officer advises Ms. Cicilline-Buonanno that she should not drive her vehicle home, and allows her to proceed without arrest. Detailed-oriented policing, or a special deal for a politically connected person?   

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LOVE LETTERS AND HATE MAIL:

Paul in Providence writes:

Can you get Dee Dee Whitman on your show? She's running for Mayor of Providence. .against that bonehead Elorza. Thanks.

BB: Dear Paul,

Thanks for writing. Sorry to read that you’re so down on Mayor Elorza!  We’ve reached out to Dee Dee Whitman about an appearance on Bartholomewtown Radio on 990WBOB.com.  You can also check out my podcast with mayoral candidates Kobi Dennis and, soon to be posted, Robert DeRobbio. What’s more, we have content that looks at Providence City Council races.  Hope this cheers you up!

-BB

Send your love letters or hate mail to:

Bartholomewtown
669 Elmwood Ave. Suite C5
Providence, RI 02907

Or:

[email protected]


THE RUNDOWN:

We had a zipper of a radio show last week on Bartholomewtown Radio, with progressive and trans-rights’ activist Nika Lomazzo discussing upcoming Providence City Council races; prolific NYC/New England singer/songwriter and WVVY radio host Workman Song; and fresh off his appearance on The Today Show, Rhode Island-based tech innovator and Bartholomewtown regular Braden Leonard.  Catch the past cast on demand here!  

Be sure to tune-in each Tuesday evening at 7pm for LIVE Bartholomewtown Radio, featuring a cast of political and other guests, correspondents, and local musicians and artists.  This week’s episode features RI Gubernatorial candidates Anne Armstrong and Bill Gilbert, as well as silverteeth drummer and bartholomewtown contributing photographer Tom Berglund.

I recently caught up with one of Southern New England’s preeminent journalists, WPRI’s Tim White, for a memorable Bartholomewtown Podcast episode.  You may know Tim from his work on Channel 12, his book The Last Good Heist, or his appearance on the popular podcast Crimetown.  We talk about the evolving media landscape, Rhode Island politics, mobsters and more.  Fun! LISTEN on demand via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa, Stitcher and TuneIn.

Had a really sweet show with my band silverteeth at The Columbus Theatre in Providence.  Melody Matters, and others have some photos.  If you haven’t been to a show at The Columbus yet, do yourself a favor and get down there ASAP!  They’re making magic happen inside of those walls with national indie musicians, film screenings and community organizing.


LET’S BE FRIENDS

Do you have an event or organization that you think might work well advertising via Bartholomewtown?  Drop us a line at 401.524.6825 to get the ball rolling.

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​Read More 990WBOB

• Celebrating David Clyde
• Is Rhody Ready to Start a Ruckus on the Gridiron?
• Off The Beaten Path: 5 Must-Try Hidden Hikes In RI
• Feroce and Dickinson on Raimondo and Fung Avoiding Primary Gubernatorial Debates​