the issues

Rhode Islanders can’t rely on the market to make housing affordable because corporate landlords are only worried about making housing profitable. Companies like Strive and 02908 continue to buy up properties all over the Elmhurst neighborhood as our rents are raised and we are priced out of our communities. The landlord lobby fights against even a modest reform like rent stabilization, an ordinance that provides massive carveouts for them.

Landlords do not provide value; they hoard a basic need while the tenants in this city have seen it quickly become the least affordable city in the country. We can have better — every Rhode Islander deserves to have a safe and affordable place to sleep, every night.

• Providence was ranked the least affordable metro area for renters in 2025 with a median rent of $2,145. (redfin.com)

• 1 in 4 Providence residents spend over half their income on housing (Housing Crisis Task Force)

• 1 in 3 District 5 residents spend more than 40% of their income on rent (census.gov)

• Homelessness in RI has increased nearly 400% since 2020 (Crossroads RI)

The state must:

1. Enact a statewide rent freeze

2. Construct new housing and take unused property into public ownership. 

3. Give tenants the power to oversee and cooperatively manage their buildings. 

4. Make high-quality public housing available to everybody regardless of income, with rents capped at 30% of income.

5. End carveouts for landlords

A healthcare system run to make profits can’t deliver quality and affordable care to the people of Rhode Island.

• In 2023, 1 in 12 adults in RI needed to see a doctor but couldn’t afford it

• 3 in 5 Rhode Islanders have delayed or foregone getting care due to cost

• 1 in 20 Rhode Islanders carry medical debt - $72 million total

• RI families have an annual healthcare deductible of nearly $3,900

The state must:

1. Eliminate the middle man! Wipe out insurance companies by providing free care at the point of service through a statewide single-payer insurance system, funded by progressive taxes.

2. Ensure safe staffing levels at our healthcare facilities. We need safe caregivers and quality care for patients.

3. Workers’ management of hospitals. Healthcare workers know how to care for patients better than business executives do.

4. Subsidize public medical school: A tuition-free Rhode Island medical school to fill our state’s shortage of primary care doctors.

The Washington bridge failure was a result of complete ineptitude by elected leaders and contractors that led to a situation where our state was cut in half. There has been no accountability for this failure and the bridge is not expected to be re-opened until 2028. The closure of the bridge crippled our state largely because of a lack of public transit alternatives. The government hasn't invested in improvements for years and has cut bus routes across the state.

Despite being incredibly reliant on car infrastructure, we lack the quality roads and drainage systems that are required. As our aging infrastructure continues to degrade, we will have flooding when it rains that cripples travel and destroys homes and businesses on Branch Ave, Charles Street, Smith Street, Silver Spring Street, and numerous other places around Providence and the state.

Rhode Islanders deserve options for getting around that don't rely on cars. We should be funding RIPTA and improving train routes to provide for these alternatives. There must be public projects to modernize the state’s drainage system that is in dire need of repair and improvement. Our state does spend money on infrastructure—but on the wrong parts of it, leaving ordinary people’s needs on the table.

• Rhode Island roads are 2.3x the National average for “poor condition” (BTS)

• Rhode Island bridges are 2.4x the National average for “poor condition” (BTS)

• Rhode Island state ranks last in the USA for Transportation infrastructure (USN&WR)

• RIPTA lines were cut by 13-22% per day in 2025 despite loud, popular disapproval and now RIPTA brings in 29% less revenue due to cuts (PVD Streets)

The state must:

1. Overhaul of Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to root out corruption and incompetence

2. Create a publicly owned, state-run construction company — no more private contractors gouging Rhode Islanders for crumbling roads/bridges

3. Create a citizens oversight board to ensure accountability of publicly owned construction companies

4. Restore and expand funding to RIPTA to improve accessibility, reduce traffic, and reduce expensive car-dependence in Rhode Island

5. Build flood-resilient infrastructure to drain the ever-increasing flooding that coastal Rhode Island has been suffering from for years

RI Energy is owned by PPL, a private corporation whose responsibility lies with providing profits to their shareholders, not in providing Rhode Islanders with affordable electricity. We deserve publicly owned, renewable energy that provides Rhode Islanders with reliable access to power, without a corporation imposing constant rate hikes.

• Rhode Islanders paid 73% more than the national average for electricity (eia.gov)

• Rhode island has the 3rd highest prices in country (Providence Journal)

• We pay RIE 70 million meant to cover past storms  but the money customers pay isn’t spent on long-term fixes that reinforce or improve the grid. Instead, the company rebuilds the same vulnerable grid storm after storm, passing the cost on to customers. (clf.org)

The state must:

1. Take over the energy grid to lower prices and eliminate the profit motive

2. Create a citizens oversight board to ensure accountability of publicly owned utilities

3. Invest in publicly owned, clean energy sources

The system we live in relies entirely on our labor to continue, but workers are still taken advantage of every day. When we as workers organize, we can demand change. We need to stand with our coworkers at our jobs and join with workers across the state to counter the bosses and their greed. All of the benefits that we take for granted now (like weekends, overtime pay, minimum wage, and labor rights) were fought for by the workers of 100 years ago. History shows us that when we fight, we win!

The state must:

1. Set a $30 minimum wage tied to inflation

2. Set a 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay — Workers deserve to benefit from automation and AI too.

3. Prosecute union busting executives. RI needs a right to unionize, and a right to strike!

4. End at-will employment

We’re being surveilled, oppressed, and imprisoned in record numbers by militarized police forces. We’re footing the bill for it too. Benjamin Franklin said "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.“ 

Since its inception, ICE and Border Patrol spending has nearly tripled, setting a record high under the Biden administration in 2024. ICE and local police have been working together to oppress our communities more than ever. This is why we resist the same under both of these ruling class parties. Just as Palestinians and many others are facing US militarized imperialism abroad,  we are facing US militarized fascist forces at home.

• Providence spends ~$120M/yr on its police budget while raising our property taxes to pay for a budget shortfall

• Rhode Island has 193 flock camera installed as of 2025 (WJAR)

The state must:

1. Ban ICE from state property

2. Close ICE’s Wyatt Detention Center and prevent sale or rental of any property to ICE

3. Ban sale of Flock, Ring and other surveillance data to all Law Enforcement

4. Enforce laws for police officers - don’t just give “bad apples” paid vacations

5. De-militarize the police and eliminate surveillance