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

Commentary: Senate needs to act on shoreline access

The Rhode Island General Assembly has a singular opportunity in this session to end years of chaos and confusion regarding where Rhode Islanders can exercise their constitutionally-protected rights … more

By Thomas J. Gibson, Jr. | 6/13/22

Letter: Fond memories of the little gem that is Little Compton

Just to the south of Little Compton, RI is the Atlantic Ocean and to the west the Sakonnet River. A place by the sea. Predominantly a small rural-farming community with an impressive ocean view. … more

6/10/22

Letter: Courage comes by making change, not slinging an AR-15

Special kudos to Republican senators! They have instilled courage into every student in America. You see, as astute people know, there is no courage without vulnerability. And because the GOP is so … more

6/10/22

Letter: Pass bill that bans sale of new fur products

To the editor: This is a plea to Rhode Island state senators to take quick action in passing S2646, the bill to ban the sale of new fur products throughout the state. This bill … more

6/10/22

Rhode Island must address PFAS

By Reps. Terri Cortvriend and June Speakman They are in the coating of your nonstick frying pan. The wrapper of your favorite burger. The stain-resistant upholstery of your couch, and even the … more

6/10/22

Gun debate looms large in General Assembly’s final days

The Senate Judiciary Committee is the key battleground for contentious legislation in Rhode Island. So what happens when the majority of support on the committee for gun … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/7/22

Letter: Little martyrs, over and over again

The priests, sheriffs, and politicians all gathered in prayer Practiced in the art of condolence, assuring survivors they care Goodbye to the children, … more

6/3/22

Letter: Public property — access denied in Little Compton

The biggest problem in getting access to our seashore is the inability to even get to the seashore. Obviously, you have to get to a beach before you can even find the … more

6/3/22

Letter: I'm proud of the flag

I'm proud of the United States flag. My dad was in the US Army, 1st Cavalry Division. He took two flags very seriously - the United States flag and the POW-MIA flag. He displayed them at … more

6/3/22

Letter: A small flag, a big gesture of love

Last week, my town council colleague Gary Mataronas wrote a letter explaining his vote to stop the Pride flag from flying at town hall on June 4, 2022, the date of Little … more

6/3/22

Not another moment of silence

I’m sick to death of observing another moment of silence when children have been murdered, particularly in a school setting. Since 2018 there have been 119 school shootings. The most recent … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/3/22

Editorial: Pass new gun laws now

Rhode Island has enacted a handful of smart gun laws in the past decade, but it is not enough. At least five common-sense gun regulation bills sit stagnant in the Rhode Island General Assembly, where … more

6/2/22

Affordable housing and Little Compton

To the editor: Little Compton's Agricultural Trust is a national treasure and a model for how to protect open space and environmental quality against overdevelopment. I watched the costs of … more

5/27/22

Make property owners responsible for swales

To the editor: In the rural town in which I live, our road system is slowly failing. Little by little, stormwater is eroding “everything.” To slow down/redirect the stormwater … more

5/27/22

I'll take diversity of thought over GOP group think, thank you

To the editor: Some witticisms, true then, are true now. Cowboy wit Will Rogers once said “I am a member of no organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” Sure enough, the … more

5/27/22

Flag decision was not homophobic, but practical

To the editor: My reason for voting against flying the Pride flag on the Little Compton Town Hall was not anti-LGBTQ, but was for the reasons below: First off, I want to say that … more

5/27/22

Letter: What religious freedom on abortion actually means

To the editor: Our legislators must pass H7442/S2549, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, out of committee in the name of religious freedom. In listening to the testimonies provided to the … more

5/26/22

Letters: Internal combustion engines aren’t the problem

To the editor: If Mr. Voutes (“Blown away by gas-powered lawn equipment” letter, May 19) seeks solitude and improved health by the elimination of internal combustion engines (ICE) he's … more

5/24/22

Op-ed: How will children grade us?

One in four households with children in Rhode Island are food insecure, meaning they struggle to afford adequate food. more

By Andrew Schiff | 5/20/22

End nuclear weapons, or they may end us

To the editor: Last June, the Little Compton Town Council voted to endorse part of the policy platform of the Back from the Brink campaign, a national grassroots effort advocating for the … more

5/19/22

Dear Republicans, I'll try to use better rhetoric

To the editor: Mea “Gulpa!” Authors of three published letters have criticized three of my recent letters to the editor. I thank all readers. One writer called me out regarding … more

5/19/22

Thank you for addressing shoreline access issues

To the editor: Your excellent articles on shoreline access, including the last one on April 21 by Glen Sherman, finally deal with the elephant which has been lurking in our collective … more

5/19/22

Let's go electric in Little Compton

To the editor: I am writing to urge you to add a discussion of the transition of the town's fleet of vehicles from gas to hybrid and eventually electric vehicles to the town's agenda. I'm … more

5/19/22

Thank you 911, Mike and Mike

To the editor: Just a note to thank the Rhode Island 911 system, especially to the two Tiverton firemen/ emergency techs, Mike and Mike, who responded to my 911 emergency on Friday … more

5/19/22

Big issues simmer — How will they impact voters a few months from now?

STORY OF THE WEEK: With summer fast approaching – and Rhode Island’s election season coming into sharper focus – how will the whipsaw of American life in 2022 affect the results? … more

By Ian Donnis | 5/17/22