Steve Ahlquist

North Kingstown School Committee President Erin West Earle is running for re-election “In my first four years, we focused on rebuilding,” said Erin West Earle. “We’re past that rebuild stage now, so we can do some really cool things to enhance student education.”

David Morales and Providence Streets Coalition partner for “Bike to Early Voting” Event “It is a pleasure to share space as we collectively advocate for a city we can afford and feel safe calling home,” said Morales. “Whether we are walking or biking, as a city, we’re connected...”

The RI Coalition to End Homelessness holds its 2026 vigil to remember those who died unhoused this year “As we reflect on lives lost, we must also confront the reality that these deaths are a reminder of the work that remains before us,” said Colby O’Brien.

I’ll be hosting the Brittany Kubicek Town Hall on Monday. It should be pretty great. Stop by!

“We’re SICK of CVS Executives!” As flu season hits, Rhode Island pharmacy professionals protest unsafe working conditions at CVS Pharmacists, technicians, and allies demand CVS put safety over corporate profits as executives refuse to settle first union contract that protects patient care.

I just finally took a tour this morning. Impressive. Services, healthcare, community under one roof. I’m glad we are serving our community by having overdose prevention and other harm reduction services all in one place.

Two years after opening, reporter’s tour Project Weber/RENEW’s Overdose Prevention Center “This overdose prevention center doesn’t bring drug use. It changes the way we talk about drug use... [and] a population of sick and dying people we should be taking care of...”

RI Homeless Advocacy Project marches on City Hall to demand police accountability “Jasmine’s arrest reflects a pattern of police harassment and abuse of the homeless. This is not what public safety looks like,” stated Kevin Simon, Pastor at Mathewson Street Church.

Pardons for the People: PrYSM calls for pardons to prevent deportations “...we’re calling for full and unconditional pardons for Chansareth Hong and Throng Chan and a fair and accessible pardon process in Rhode Island.” steveahlquist.substack.com/p/pardons-fo...

Really liking Buffet Infinity (2025), a Lovecraftian Canadian horror film told in cheaply made 1980s/1990s-style television commercials. It seems to be about a demonic entity, an expanding restaurant, consuming all other businesses. It’s not perfectly successful, but it swings for the fences.

A true career milestone to be featured in the legendary Steve Ahlquist's work!

Should the police be crafting the state’s automated license plate readers policy? As Providence moves to eliminate ALPRs due to potential civil rights abuses, the McKee Administration pushes a policy solely created by the police... steveahlquist.substack.com/p/should-the...

Rhode Island Hospital physicians ratify first contract, campaigns at Women & Infants, Butler, and Kent The first of four Rhode Island hospitals to unionize with CIR/SEIU in 2025 approved their contract last week... steveahlquist.substack.com/p/rhode-isla...

@ehalvarson.bsky.social talks about what ballot initiatives will be on the general ballot for Providence voters

The Downtown Progressive Action Network: The November Ballot, Beyond the Candidates “Providence voters face seven important ballot questions this November, including the first citizen-led ballot initiative in city history...” steveahlquist.substack.com/p/the-downto...

This is another reason Governor McKee is out: He was unable to deliver the basics.

RI Students are well into their second school year without the protections of the FTRA being put into place. Our young people who fought for this law deserve better than this! #Freedomtoread

15 months after passage, the Rhode Island Freedom to Read Act has yet to be implemented by the McKee Administration “Authors, educators, librarians, students, and readers across Rhode Island worked together with legislators to get this law, and we deserve to have it implemented.”

ACLU of RI: Tenant organizers’ free speech rights vindicated as judge rejects landlord’s defamation claim “The judge’s ruling is a decisive victory that the court saw through Butler’s attempt to silence tenant advocacy under the guise of defamation,” said ACLU of RI executive director Steven Brown.

Harrison Tuttle talks about battling homelessness at the First Baptist Church in America “Over the last couple of years, the cost of living has become a fight for survival,” writes Tuttle. “This struggle comes with the weight of lacking basic necessities.”

I’m halfway through the Musk documentary at the Avon - there’s a welcome intermission in this four hour movie - and this might be better classified as a monster movie.

"...for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee." @steveahlquist.bsky.social notes via Ahab that the lame duck pro-Project 2025 members here are doing damage while they can. That Smithfield is now recognized as anti-LGBTQ+ is fine with them. We'll see if it is fine with the rest of the folx.

From hell’s heart I stab at thee: Outgoing Smithfield School Committee finally sabotages the District’s transgender student policy "Making those changes will likely violate existing federal and state law,” noted Attorney Jerry Elmer. "For those reasons, I urge you not to make the proposed changes."

Among many deserving winners, @steveahlquist.bsky.social stands out. He relentlessly provides coverage of urgent local issues virtually in real time to anyone who wants it. Please support Steve through his substack. He answers to no one but his conscience and his readers. Follow Steve fro more.

I just found out I won an Options Award. I am seriously honored.

Tonight, the Smithfield School Committee voted to alter their transgender student policy. Three votes for, one absence, one abstention. The policy is now in contravention of state and federal law.

The vote on Question 7 in Providence has begun “We are the first city in the U.S. to have a legally binding referendum on genocide,” said Diana Kushner, an organizer with Providence for Palestine. “But we won’t be the last...” steveahlquist.substack.com/p/the-vote-o...

Tenants rally outside Charles Gate Apartments to demand landlord negotiate directly and in good faith “So far, they have refused to negotiate anything in writing with our union,” said Freddie Jackson, vice president of the Charles Place Tenants Union. “Promises of change are not enough for us.”

State Senate District 14 Candidate Forum Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island (LWV) and the East Bay Media Group...

Unionized tenants in Providence coordinate with tenant organizations in NY, CA, and DC to demand a negotiated agreement w/ their landlord “While our landlords collect rent checks from us and tax breaks from the government, they haven’t even had the decency to commit to meeting with us in person...”

Outside the Providence City Hall this morning I saw a woman handing out political info wearing a shirt that said “SOCIALISM.” I said “Nice shirt,” and she smiled. It was then I realized the shirt said “SOCIALISM SUCKS.” I didn’t bother to correct myself, I just smiled back.

Who’s voter #46 in Providence?

Thanks. Very useful.

A big state run cold plant and warehousing for fish/shellfish/kelp whatever. Great! A big state owned factory for leasing small industrial startup spaces below market value, maybe! Depends on how we write the contracts. But bills like this one is just a transfer of public money to private interests

Thanks Steve! The wording of this question really concerns me and I’m voting no, but your substack helps me explain it to others.

Im voting no on 3. But im voting yes and blue on everything else

Steve Ahlquist: Blue is not Green: Vote “No” on Question 3 ...what, exactly, is the money for? The phrase “[e]ligible uses include, but are not limited to” is extremely broad. A literal reading of the phrase could include any imaginable expenditure. steveahlquist.substack.com/p/steve-ahlq...

Providence march and rally demand a full two-way arms embargo and sanctions on Israel “What began as outrage over the destruction of Gaza became... a much larger confrontation with U.S. foreign policy, Zionism, imperialism, and the political institutions enabling the genocide.”

Brown students launch new campaign targeting Brown University Study Abroad to Israel programs “We rally today to demand that Brown University shut down its study abroad programs to Israel as part of a broader academic disaffiliation with a nation that murders families...”

In an open letter, the RIHAP demands that the Providence Police comply with PERA and establish a disciplinary matrix “This would be the first time in the department’s 162-year history that they would have a formal, written rubric that standardizes internal discipline...”

The Westerly Town Council Candidate Forum Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island... steveahlquist.substack.com/p/the-wester...

First Circuit hears arguments in case challenging viewpoint-based penalties in federal funding for the arts “...If public funding can be conditioned on whether an organization’s work aligns with a particular ideological viewpoint, that has implications far beyond the arts...”

State Senate District 38 Candidate Forum Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island... steveahlquist.substack.com/p/state-sena...

The Warren Town Council Candidate Forum Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the East Bay Media Group... steveahlquist.substack.com/p/the-warren...

The Charlestown Town Council Candidate Forum Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the South County Star... steveahlquist.substack.com/p/the-charle...

I know this isn't Woonsocket specific....but we still need so much more. A new building opened in EG within the past year, affordable, mixed w/ income particulars. Soria. I learned today that their waiting list is 63 people long. 😧 Rough guess of at least 3 years.

Woonsocket Task Force releases update on housing and homelessness “Two years ago, we laid out a plan,” said Margaux Morisseau. “Today, we can show that progress is possible when a community decides to work together, and why we cannot stop now.” steveahlquist.substack.com/p/woonsocket...

Apple AirTags for all!!!! Stephen Miller would love it! No, I'm sure it's already in his plans. But how would he argue to exempt white male Republicans?