OP-ED

Real change in Warwick and statewide

By Governor Gina Raimondo
Posted 10/23/18

By GINA RAIMONDO Four years ago Rhode Island had the highest unemployment in the nation. Today, the unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in 20 years and the number of jobs in the state are near an all-time high. Simply put, we're bringing real,

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OP-ED

Real change in Warwick and statewide

Posted

Four years ago Rhode Island had the highest unemployment in the nation. Today, the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in 20 years and the number of jobs in the state are near an all-time high. Simply put, we’re bringing real, measurable change to Rhode Island. Our people and our state are better off because of it.

Election Day is November 6, and Rhode Islanders have a clear choice to make: Continue the positive change we’ve brought to Rhode Island or go backwards.

When I took office, unemployment was high and wages were flat. It had been that way for decades. We had to come together and shake up the old way of doing things to get people working again, so we did.

We started investing in Rhode Islanders. From early childhood education to post-secondary opportunities, we are creating pathways to the middle class for everyone.

A good education is the foundation for success so we’ve made record investments in K-12 education. Immediately after taking office, I ended the freeze on school construction and we got to work fixing schools, including Norwood Elementary School, Veteran’s Middle School, Warwick Career & Tech, and Pilgrim High School. We’ve tripled the number of Pre-K classes across the state and every child can now attend all-day kindergarten. And with your support in November, we’ll guarantee that every four year old has a seat in a public Pre-K class.

For four years, we’ve been laser focused on job training. We’ve trained and placed more than 3,000 unemployed or underemployed Rhode Island workers in good-paying jobs since I took office. In a second term, we’ll double the number of employers involved in our Real Jobs RI training partnerships. Seven out of 10 jobs in Rhode Island require a degree or credential beyond high school, so last year we made CCRI tuition-free for high school graduates. In a second term, I’ll work to expand the RI Promise Scholarship at CCRI to Rhode Islanders of all ages, and extend it for high school graduates to URI and RIC.

Four years ago, our economy was stuck and we had no strategy to compete with other states. For too long, we relied on Hail Mary passes and special deals for special people. And a lot of Rhode Islanders got hurt along the way. Right after I took office, we changed that. We created a new small business loan program that’s helped roughly 70 small businesses expand and grow, including Town Doggy Day Care and Specialty Hearth Products in Warwick. We’ve recruited or expanded over two dozen major employers to Rhode Island and put thousands of Rhode Islanders to work fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, including nearly two dozen projects in Warwick alone. We’ve created over 15,000 news jobs in less than four years and we led the nation last year in wage growth.

My opponents have promised to undo this progress and send Rhode Island backwards. They oppose the job-creating programs we’ve established. Allan Fung would get rid of the Rhode Island Promise scholarship altogether. And neither Fung nor Trillo have the courage to stand up for Rhode Island which sometimes requires standing up to President Trump.

I love Rhode Island and I believe in our little Ocean State. I grew up here, Andy and I chose to raise our children here, I started a business here – and I’m proud and humbled to be your Governor. I’m asking for the chance to keep working for you, so we can keep bringing the change Rhode Islanders need and deserve.

Gina Raimondo is the Governor of Rhode Island. She lives in Providence with her husband and two children.

Comments

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  • bendover

    Is this woman the Statewide version of Dick Corrente? Who will pay for the $660M dollar, (and growing) UHIP debacle? A year over year budget increase of $400M+ dollars, a budget larger than South Carolina and New Hampshire, to name just two. Please make your theme song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" until the chickens come home to roost after the first of the year. Whitehouse isn't the only gasbag.

    Tuesday, October 23, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    I certainly am looking forward to reading Allan Fung's, Joe Trillo's, William Gilbert's Anne Armstrong's, and Luis Munoz's op eds. What is good for one candidate is good for all.

    Wednesday, October 24, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    This woman is delusional. Another person who believes every word out of their mouth is truth even when presented with the facts.

    Thursday, October 25, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear bendover,

    WOW!

    Thank you!

    You put me in the same league as the governor. I'm flattered. You must really like me. You even think about me when you're reading an article about Governor Riamondo, WRITTEN by Governor Riamondo. I am so impressed!

    Welcome to my fan club but I think you will be competing with CrickeeRaven and Scal1024 for "President" of the club.

    Good luck! I'm rooting for you.

    Happy Autumn bendover,

    Happy Autumn everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, October 26, 2018 Report this

  • bendover

    WOW, DICK...You are a funny guy, funny like a clown, sent here to amuse us. No Dick, I think you are the resident pissant of these pages, an honor you have earned by yourself...Obviously you are not going to take my suggestion and visit Butler for a check up from the neck up, something, IMHO, you are in need of...But I am curious about one thing...How do you live? I mean you are El Presidente of mortgage bankers or bankers mortgage...I mean, as El Presidente, you must have a great deal of responsibility and oversight duties, and of course paperwork...So explain to us Dick, how is it possible your time stamps for posting comments here are all over the place, including in the middle of the banking day? How is this possible to be a sage scribe like yourself and El Presidente, Mr. Banker at the same time? How is this humanly possible, or does this explain your little money problem down at 1050 Main St. in East Greenwich? Inquiring minds want to know how this is possible, El Presidente, the untaxpayers mayor? I await your latest gibberish...

    Monday, October 29, 2018 Report this

  • DavidWilliams2

    Gina Raaimondo is a welll--documented liar. Four years of lies from the treasurer''s offiice and four more from the governor's offiice. Differences of opinion are very different than outright lies.When someone lies to you they say, under their breath, I think you are

    so stupid that you are going to believe this lie I'm about to tell you.

    Enough, Gina, we are not that stupid! We will never take the word of a politician that lies to us. We can not and should not trust a liar.

    Thursday, November 1, 2018 Report this