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Community Corner

🌱 $1.3Billion Affordable Housing + McKee Plans For COVID Ramp Up

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Woonsocket.

Kathleen Stoddart, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Get on up, Woonsocket! Let's get you started this Wednesday with everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Becoming windier; a.m. rain. High: 45 Low: 26.

Here are the top stories today in Woonsocket:

  1. Governor Dan McKee addressed the State yesterday He said Rhode Island is now back to COVID ramp-up mode, while the state marks over 3,000 pandemic deaths.
    "That's 3,000 mothers, dads, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, grandparents, friends, and neighbors who will be missed," Gov. Dan McKee said Tuesday. McKee is hoping that this tragic milestone will make more people get vaccinated and get booster shots. The State is going to open 2 more mass vaccination sites, one being the Convention Center in Providence. The Governor has requested the National Guard to help the severely understaffed hospitals. (WJAR)
  2. The coalition known as ACCESS/RI sent Governor McKee a letter asking him to both allow public bodies to meet remotely, and require them to offer remote access to the public citing the rise in infections and arrival of the Omicron variant. For the state's significant elderly and immunocompromised population, even being masked and fully vaccinated is no guarantee of protection in crowded meetings in indoor settings. The letter is signed by the leaders of the ACLU of Rhode Island, ACCESS/RI, Common Cause Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Press Association, and the New England First Amendment Coalition. Former Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order last year suspending parts of the open meetings law so public bodies such as city councils, school boards and more could meet online or on the phone with public access during the pandemic. McKee extended the order multiple times when he took over as governor in March, but he did not extend it in July when it expired as COVID cases dropped and vaccines became more widely available. Since then, public bodies have been required to meet in person. In response to the letter, McKee's office did not extend by signing another Executive Order but asked the RI General Assembly to pass a bill allowing remote meetings. . In response, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said he had asked McKee months ago to reinstate his executive order. (WPRI)
  3. A report released by Senator Bell details how Rhode Island has left $197 million in federal funds for affordable housing projects unused every year.
    Under the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Rhode Island would be eligible for an average of $197.3 million per year. But from 2014 to 2020, Rhode Island turned away a total of $1.381 billion. That works out to an average of $197.3 million of federal funds turned away each year," With the housing crisis at a critical point in Rhode Island, now is not the time to turn down federal funds allocated to RI to build affordable housing. Affordable housing is a big problem. It is an expensive problem. To solve this, it will take a significant investment. RI has the money. Just stop turning it away. (ABC)


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Today in Woonsocket

  • Woonsocket High School Class of 2001 , a 20 Year Reunion at Savini's Pomodoro, 476 Rathbun St. (5-10pm)
  • Kitty Litter is Home for Christmas at the Stadium Theatre, 28 Monument Square
    ( 7:30pm)
  • Wecky Wednesday Dinner for 2 for $39 at River Falls Restaurant (River Falls)
  • Ciro's Tavern has Pub Trivia - Wise Guys every Wednesday night (Ciro's Tavern)


From my notebook:

  • PAUSE Rhode Island provides free behavioral health support services for Rhode Islanders. If you or someone you care about is dealing with COVID-19-related stress or anxiety, call one of these 24/7 hotlines for information on services such as treatment or counseling. Hablamos español
  • New Beginnings Soup Kitchen: Due to the recent health developments, lunch to-go is being served from 12-1 PM (New Beginnings Soup Kitchen)
  • The City of Woonsocket will be picking up discarded Christmas Trees from Monday, January 3, 2022, through Friday, January 14, 2022. (City of Woonsocket)
  • Did you know the Stadium Theatre has a gift shop loaded with great gifts and stocking stuffers like their Stadium Theatre tree ornaments? (Stadium Theatre)
  • Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park wants to hear from you! Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park is beginning a multi-year process – the creation of a General Management Plan. From January 3, 2022, through February 15, 2022, the public is invited to participate. (Facebook)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Blackstone: "Has anyone seen my precious furry boy Basil near Glenn Road or Spring Street in the North End of Woonsocket? - He's been missing since Sunday and it is so cold out. Please let me know. Thank-you Daphne" (Nextdoor)

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That's it for today. This is Kathleen Stoddart and I'm one of your neighbors here in Woonsocket. I have 3 rescue dogs which I love dearly and of course my 3 kids. My oldest just bought their first house today. I'm so proud, I could burst! See you all tomorrow for another update!

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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