Opinion | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Letter: In support of an assault weapons ban

To the editor: I never know day to day if another community will be devastated by gun violence once again. Even more worrisome is if I turn the news on and hear one of those communities is right … more

6/11/25

Letter: ‘No Kings’ in the USA — Join us June 14

To the editor: I had intended to write a much different letter this week with information on No Kings Day. I will get to that, but first I feel the need to express my horror and heartbreak at … more

6/11/25

Letter: Extolling the virtues of a state-based, single-payer healthcare system

To the editor: Attorney General Peter Neronha recently announced several important actions related to healthcare that seek to address the problems facing our state and all RI citizens. These are … more

6/11/25

Letter: Skip the parade and attend a No Kings Day rally

To the editor: On June 14th the nation will be subjected to the spectacle of a military parade the likes of which we generally do not have in our country, and to make matters worse, the chief … more

6/9/25

New column: Common Ground

The “Letter to the Editor” column has for years been a place where readers from all walks of life are free to express their opinions about what is happening in our neighborhoods and the … more

By Stephan Brigidi and Craig Evans | 6/9/25

After House passage, assault weapons bill hangs over Smith Hill

1. STORY OF THE WEEK: When does the calculus of doing nothing outweigh the value of doing something at the Statehouse? That question will hang over Smith Hill until the resolution of the proposed … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/9/25

Letter: Wear orange for National Gun Violence Awareness Day

To the editor: On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from the South Side of Chicago, marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was … more

6/4/25

Letter: Rampant anti-semitism contrary to founding ideals

To the editor: As we approach the July 4th celebration please let us also celebrate freedom of religion brought about to the USA by the enormous efforts of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish … more

6/4/25

Letter: No vote of confidence on the RITBA safety assessment of the Mt. Hope Bridge

To the editor: The recent article in the Bristol Phoenix entitled "Mt Hope Bridge is Safe, RITBA assures public" provided zero assurance to concerned East Bay citizens that the bridge is in fact … more

6/4/25

Letter: Bristol’s 250th Commission welcomes your input

To the editor: Perhaps it is my new age of 60 coupled with some delightful extra time on my hands. It could also be my new role as chair of Bristol’s 250th Commission that I have been … more

6/4/25

AG Neronha gets aggressive on R.I. health care crisis

1. STORY OF THE WEEK: When Attorney General Peter Neronha makes a presentation, he really goes to town. A case in point was the news conference in his office Wednesday, about confronting Rhode … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/2/25

Rhode Island is awash with conflicts

Politicians in the state no longer hide their conflicts of interest. It is probably because the voters have become anesthetized to abuses. Here are just a few recent examples. Speaker of the … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/2/25

Letter: Support bill to keep Rhode Island litter free

To the editor: I am writing to encourage East Bay readers to contact their representatives to voice support for House bill H 6207 pending in the Rhode Island legislature that would create a … more

5/29/25

Letter: The collapse of our democracy is no laughing matter

To the editor: In a recent letter to the editor, Zachary Cooper apparently thought he was being clever and funny when he made snarky remarks about elderly Rhode Islanders’ concerns for … more

5/29/25

Letter: A message of gratitude from Colt Andrews elementary

To the editor: We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Bristol Chief of Police Kevin Lynch for graciously hosting a wonderful “Chief of Police for the Day” award ceremony … more

5/29/25

Letter: A letter to Stan, my friend and yours

Editor's Note: Scott Cary, co-owner of Stingy Alley, submitted the following letter he sent to Stanley Fafara, owner of Jack's Bar who is in the midst of another battle with cancer, this one likely … more

5/28/25

Letter: Read all about it...in your local paper

To the editor: Hereabouts in our little towns we are fortunate to have local newspapers featuring unbiased local story reporting, and importantly, editing by responsible journalists. In an … more

5/28/25

This so-called Colony House in Newport is the oldest (1739-1741) of Rhode Island’s five surviving historic state house and court house buildings. It was the site of the May, 1790 convention that ratified the federal Constitution by a margin of 34 to 32, the narrowest of any state. Ironically, due to space limitations, the convention delegates also met and debated at the nearby Baptist Meeting House of Rev. Gardner Thurston, while vigorously defending Rhode Island’s famed separation of church and state. This anomaly was repeated in November, 1842 when the new state constitution was debated by the Law-and-Order Party, first in the East Greenwich State House and Court House, but then moved to the town’s Methodist Church for debate and a final vote of approval. These occurrences indicate that our Founders believed in freedom for religion; not freedom from religion. This fact was attested to by founder John Adams when he correctly observed that “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

In recognition of Rhode Island Statehood Day

Many American states conduct special observances on the date that they entered the Union under our Constitution. Rhode Island does not. Is that reluctance because of embarrassment over the fact that … more

By Patrick T. Conley | 5/28/25

Letter: We all benefit from knowing the truth

To the editor: Hereabouts in our little towns we are fortunate to have local newspapers featuring unbiased local story reporting, and importantly, editing by responsible journalists. In an age … more

5/28/25

Letter: Thanks to all who helped fend off the Brits

To the Editor: Once again, Bristolians have sent the British packing. We hope everyone had a lot of fun at last weekend's Brits Attack Bristol events — we sure did! As you know, a lot of … more

5/28/25

Letter: Some more ways for worried locals to take action

Thank you for keeping us informed about so many opportunities in our local community. more

5/22/25

Letter: Library cutbacks will have a profound effect

To the editor: Amid all the changes big and small coming from our federal government during this administration, loss of library funding may seem a low priority when compared with cutbacks to … more

5/22/25

Letter: Thank goodness for local papers

To the editor: On Wednesday, May 14 the Providence Journal, still the state’s “paper of record,” ran a front page story by Wheeler Cowperthwaite regarding House bill 6256, a … more

5/22/25

Letter: What Memorial Day means for all of us

To the editor: Memorial Day is a day that we take time to pause and honor those who have served in the armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The cost of freedom is always … more

5/22/25

Letter: Some more ways for locals to take action

To the editor: We much appreciated the list of local organizations included in the May 1 letter by Roz Moulton, “Antidote to Despair”. We are also very grateful for the many … more

5/22/25