Part II-Democrats Campaigning Like Republicans In Rhode Island:

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Most people know what it means to be a Democrat fighting the Trump Administration. A White House that is defying court orders to once again go after birthright citizenship and the independence of the Federal Reserve via Lisa Cook. A White House that is gutting Head Start once more. A White House that is restricting or cutting out legal immigration entirely and systematically targeting labor unions, represented most horrendously by Florida’s newest state-level legislation.

And while more and more Democrats realize they need to focus on the cost of living and the unstable economy we are in with new job losses, Donald Trump is focused once again on ballrooms, arches, and Nobel Peace Prizes, despite his warmonger credentials.

We, as a country, also really need to talk about the rise of lynchings in the South today, including in Mississippi.

But in Rhode Island, the meaning of a Democrat can represent so little, including in the Providence mayoral race—and you can take it from, of all people, Joe Trillo.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley is taking many pages from the Trump-MAGA playbook these days.

That includes Smiley suppressing and cracking down on lawful striking and picketing at Butler Hospital for its SEIU nurses and workers dealing with the most severe and vulnerable mental health patients; a position even the Republican nominee Dave Talan disagrees with on First Amendment grounds.

That includes Smiley clearing homeless encampments in violation of the Homeless Bill of Rights by destroying and unjustly searching basic property, and by not giving the proper notice or support to those in the encampments. That comes not just from the reporting of Steve Ahlquist, Rhode Island Current, and The Providence Journal, but also from the expert perspectives of the RI Homeless Advocacy Project, the RI Coalition to End Homelessness, Mathewson Street Church, overwhelmed case managers and social workers, and members of the City Council.

The sad thing is North Providence Mayor Charlie Lombardi, a Trump voter, actually has a more compassionate approach to homelessness than Mayor Smiley does. Encampment clearings do not prevent more encampments from popping up again.

Whenever he is not criticizing State Rep. David Morales for being “radical,” the Mayor also copies David’s online social media activity and campaign rhetoric, which you can see in an example below:

He will lie through falsehoods and omission about all sorts of issues, from homelessness, to ICE collaboration, campaign donations, AIPAC support, and more.

He will even take credit for pilot programs or proposals pushed by Providence City Council members like Miguel Sanchez, Justin Roias, and Council President Rachel Miller and her entire team, despite not pushing for them himself or standing in opposition to them—Mathewson Street Church financial support in the city budget just one example.

Plus, Smiley also embraces the career politician strategy of dodging and omitting his own policy inconsistencies, whether it was his past criticism of charter schools in 2014, or his actual plan in 2020 to defund assistance to Distressed Communities like Providence that use the state aid often to support and bolster its police, fire, and EMS departments.

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We have two new pages off of the Trump playbook now.

First, Mayor Smiley created a red box for federal PACs to use to attack David Morales, which is defined in this Morales campaign letter below:

Second, Mayor Smiley berated all of the Ward 5 City Council candidates, partly in hopes of preventing Jackie Goldman from being elected, who he called “crazy.” Which is actually quite stupid and pathetic.

If that’s not enough, it is worth saying Mayor Smiley would prefer any “moderate” candidate, including a candidate named Simon Sarkisian with an online footprint of vigorously supporting Donald Trump and his various policies.

Apparently, Brett Smiley thinks a Trump supporter is less “crazy” than a working class candidate who spent a career in public health assisting those with substance abuse and homelessness, and who is running to improve city services, strengthen public schools, and lower the cost of rent and housing.

And people wonder why Mayor Smiley cannot work with the Providence City Council.

It is also no wonder Mayor Smiley has resorted to a negative, mainly one-issue, campaign about crime using classic Trump-Cuomo fear mongering, because he has almost nothing else whatsoever to tout in his first term record.

Public safety, as David’s plan acknowledges, requires supporting police, fire, and EMS alike. But it also entails a network to handle police abuse and misconduct, and builds a wider net of systems to address drug abuse, alcoholism, and mental health issues. Much of which will address a real community trust issue behind the racial disparities in murder clearance and unsolved crime rates.

While I am an active supporter of David Morales, the contrast and record of these candidates speaks for itself.

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A choice between a lifelong renter with extensive experience in federal and state government, as well as in the nonprofit and private sectors, who fights for working people and delivers concrete results despite opposition from corporate special interests.

Or a Mayor vacationing at his summer home in Tiverton or traveling to his NYC property. A Mayor backed by real estate, luxury developers, corporate landlords, industrial polluters, Citizens Bank, Delta Dental, Flock Group, and Wall Street, who follows the MAGA playbook of fear mongering, and who promised the best-run city on so many issues, but instead delivered potholes, higher taxes, unaffordable rents, and underfunded, poor-performing schools.

Providence can have a Mayor who wars with the City Council, uses darkened skin and fake AI against his rivals, and remains disconnected from the problems facing our residents, or they can elect a fighter willing to challenge the status quo with a real solid team around him.

Which is what David Morales for Mayor of the City of Providence is all about in the upcoming Democratic primary on Wednesday, September 9.

In the Ward 5 City Council race featuring Jackie Goldman, primary opponents Simon Sarkisian and corporate establishment favorite Michael Solomon did not even bother to show up at the only community forum before the primaries. With Solomon’s record and Simon’s Facebook profile, I can’t fault them for being afraid of facing scrutiny.

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Turning to the AG’s race which deserves a lot more attention for so many reasons.

There are 4 candidates running to succeed RI Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Rhode Islanders have a right to know that Warwick State Rep. Joe Solomon Jr., with his conservative credentials on abortion, guns, crime, and even economic and tax policy, in addition to supporting the controversially corrupt House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, now feels compelled to court RI Republicans in hopes of winning his Democratic primary.

Republicans easily can see Joe Solomon Jr. as a pickup opportunity for AG races all across the country.

There is Kim Ahern, who has longstanding connections to the very problematic Raimondo Administration, and has received Raimondo’s support in this race.

Furthermore, Ahern’s role at the Cannabis Control Commission faces scrutiny for slow administrative rollout, alongside a struggle to adhere to social equity goals, and a flawed system that allows big retailers to rake in opportunities meant for smaller businesses.

Other reporting from Steve Ahlquist looks into potential lead mitigation law violations, a key issue the RI AG has wide purview over.

Ahern may also have to address questions about fighting public records requests under the Raimondo and McKee administrations as a legal counsel, another issue the RI AG has major jurisdiction over.

Lastly, while not intentional based on the 2017 reports, past instances of case mistrials have to be accounted for in an office that deals heavily with prosecuting violent crime, sex offenses, major drug activity, and even government corruption.

Keith Hoffmann stands as an heir to popular AG Neronha, a record featuring plenty of accomplishments and breakthroughs. Any lingering questions about him concern his experience and preparedness for the role of actual being the Attorney General, versus a deputy position. Other questions concern his fundraising from out-of-state donors or money tied to big powerful companies, which Rhode Islanders should also get answers from.

Even Barrington-Warren State Rep. Jason Knight’s record as a defense lawyer can be scrutinized, as would a prosecutor’s record in many other circumstances.

These are questions and issues that deserve to be elevated and discussed before Rhode Islanders start voting, as it should be for the Lt. Governor’s primary that needs more contrast, spice, and drama of its own.

As for me personally, my reasons for supporting Rep. Jason Knight come not just from the vast experience in public and private practice, or from progressive policy and legislative oversight chops at the State House, but also because Mr. Knight is responsive and outgoing in a way most elected officials really need to be everywhere. I have personally seen that work firsthand.

Those qualities to me are just as important to have with an AG as it is to have an AG who will stand for Rhode Islanders’ rights against the Trump Administration, who will tackle corporate greed and predatory practices, and who will keep our communities safe, which is what Rep. Knight is more than capable of doing if elected.

In an example of my views on Rep. Knight, here is Jason’s first TV ad:

Beyond the Republican-esque Solomon, voters deserve to be aware of any potential vulnerabilities that could undermine the power of the AG’s office in Trump 2.0, or in any key position in Rhode Island.

And yes, there may be more articles on the upcoming RI primaries as developments continue to progress faster.