To the Editor: By now, most readers have probably heard of the so-called “Fiscal Cliff.” By way of a basic definition, the fiscal cliff is the phrase used to describe the challenge that the U.S. government will face at the end of 2012, when all the provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2011 are scheduled to go into effect. So what does it really mean to us as residents, taxpayers, business owners and employees? Well, let’s take a more in-depth look. Specifically, let’s look at what taxes are set to increase if nothing is done by the Congress and the President to prevent the act from …

  A resolution to change our by-laws in order to oust the chairperson by a majority vote instead of a super majority clearly shows that we are witnessing a political game.  This change will mean the school committee can play musical chairs.  So, the chairperson and or vice-chairperson will need to go along to get along or they will be voted out. If a member wants to control the agenda, he/she doesn’t need to be the chairperson; all they need is two votes of support and put their ideas on the agenda in order to get their way. Why is this political power play necessary? It is not. Let me remind…

The members of the Woonsocket Taxpayer Coalition would like to express our thanks to Representatives Lisa Baldelli-Hunt,  Jon Brien and Robert Phillips for hearing the pleas of the Taxpayers of the City of Woonsocket, RI and defeating the Supplemental Tax Bill.   We fully support their decision and offer our ideas and suggestions to our representatives.  Know that you are not alone in this battle to save our city. We understand that taxes are a part of life and, as citizens, it is our duty to pay taxes and support our government but, it is also the responsibility of our government to spend …

  To The Editor: I feel the state is losing a lot of money putting people in jail for just smoking this stuff (marijuana).  There are people out there who smoke this and go about their daily lives with no problems.  You'd be surprised the people out there who smoke this, they're not all kids and they are from every class, profession, etc. My problem is this: Medical marijuana. There are people out there who are so sick, like I was at one time.  I'm doing better now but I still have flare-ups. There was a time where I couldn't even leave the house.  I was given all kinds of drugs that didn't …

  TO THE EDITOR: I would like to take a moment to thank all the community that assisted The River United Methodist Church and Harvest Community Church in Woonsocket, RI in their efforts to raise tents and sleeping bags for the 30 homeless men in the community. Your efforts have gone beyond being a temporary Band-Aid and manifested God's Mercy and Christ's Love on earth.I would like to make you aware that some of these men have moved beyond their situation. Three men have found housing and employment. These men were homeless not due to drugs or alcohol, but because of the loss of employment, …

  To The Editor: I am concerned about the anti-renter sentiment expressed by many recently. The financial crisis facing Woonsocket is grave, indeed, and I certainly understand and appreciate the taxpayers’ frustration with the supplemental tax increase and the ongoing financial challenges which even this increase will not address. That having been said, we have been hearing a lot about 10,000 taxpayers carrying 40,000 non-taxpayers, a “head tax” for the privilege of living in Woonsocket, and even a charge for having children in the public schools. While I join those who abhor the welfare …

  To the editor: This in response to an Associated Press article in The Enterprise (Brockton) about the removal of a Woonsocket World War I and II memorial cross. I am a Catholic converted from the Jewish faith only three years ago. But even if this weren't so, I would be just as sad and appalled. The assertion that the founding fathers founded a secular government is erroneous. They founded a government based upon the concept of human freedom from tyranny by government or any other entity. That included freedom of religion as granted by the First Amendment of our Constitution. There is no …

  To the editor: Woonsocket does not have the vision or a plan to become the great City it once was. Last year, I had clear objectives to increase economic development, fix our housing crisis, and improve our reputation. The voters were lied to and now we are forced with sending out an extra tax bill. Let’s be very clear, that there is no such thing as a surplus or deficit in the school department. The City of Woonsocket is responsible for all school funding; for which they receive aid from the Federal and State Government. The School Committee does not have the ability to raise revenue and I…

Editor's note - The author has addressed the following letter to all the people in Rhode Island. To The Editor: Fellow Rhode Islanders, with an apology for the length of this letter in advance, I’d like to try to identify the problems faced by the old mill towns of Woonsocket, Central Falls, Pawtucket, and West Warwick, although my principal concern is Woonsocket. All of these communities were founded and developed because oftheir proximity to the Blackstone and Pawtuxet Rivers. Quarter mile longfactories, originally powered by these mighty Rivers, later used them asa dumping ground for …

  To the editor:The Rhode Island House Committee on Corporations is considering legislation to reduce the legal rate of interest on payday loans from the unconscionable APR of 260 percent to 36 percent. The bill (H-7257) has been co-sponsored by 50 of 75 representatives. The senate bill (S-2307) is co-sponsored by 26 of 38 senators. Because of the likelihood of passage, lobbyists for payday lenders are trying to make sure that the bills never get a vote in either chamber.Payday loans are marketed as short-term solutions to a cash shortage. In reality, borrowers get trapped in a cycle of …

Why Should Rhode Islanders Support RIPTA? I am tempted to cite statistics that prove the value of public transportation to economic development; to give worker and student ridership percentages and the savings those riders realize by taking the bus; to give statistics of how ridership has gone up in recent years despite fare increases, to point out that we will never adequately reduce carbon emissions without a robust public transit system; to elaborate the health benefits associated with the more active lifestyle of a transit rider and the improved air quality of communities with less …

In recent weeks, in conjunction with Mayor Fontaine’s decision to remove your Ladder Truck from service, we, the members of the Woonsocket Fire Department, have been assaulted with a barrage of mistruths, speculation, and literary invention.  Unfortunately, we are afforded little opportunity to brief you, the citizens of Woonsocket, on our job function.  We would like to take this opportunity to debunk a few myths. Firefighter is a traditional term carried down through generations, but unfortunately, it does not satisfactorily describe our job function.  Nationwide, the fire service began …

There are think tanks, academic institutes and trade associations for virtually every conceivable topic and issue.  From state legislatures (National Conference of State Legislatures, www.ncsl.org ), “the forum for America’s ideas since 1975”; regional small farms (New England Small Farm Institute www.smallfarm.org ) “working to support beginning farmers and sustainable, small scale farming throughout the Northeast”; to skateboarding (National Skateboard Association www.skatensa.com ) “connecting you to your world of skateboarding.” So it should not come as a surprise that municipalities, the…