Tim White talks public records in the new Providence Phoenix
June 14th, 2012 at 2:36 pm by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes
David Scharfenberg talks to Tim in The Providence Phoenix:
I’M WONDERING IF YOU COULD PUT IN PERSPECTIVE JUST HOW AWFUL RHODE ISLAND’S PUBLIC RECORDS LAW IS AT PRESENT. I have worked in other markets and when I came here I was absolutely stunned to find how much was sealed from public inspection. And as I got more familiar with our public records law, I realized that Rhode Island is in the dark ages.
Rhode Island has a reputation [for] corruption — it’s not always fair, but some of it is earned. And I think the public records law has a lot to do with it, honestly. I’m not being overdramatic here. I think that because public records law keeps so much sealed from inspection, it’s created a petri dish for bad things to grow in the dark.
• Related: Common Cause, NEFAC urge Chafee to sign public records bill (June 13)
Tags: access to public records, apra, david scharfenberg, providence phoenix, public records, tim white, transparency
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
David, you are just learning Rhode Island is third world. The people who grew up in Rhode Island are proud of their ignorance. Just look at how many people emulate characters from movies and tv shows such as, The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Sapronos, and even Jersey Shore. Look at Buddy Cianci, he was mayor for 22 years, he did squat for Providence. Then the other mayors after him are just rejects who are hog tied to public sector unions. Now lets talk about the Speaker of the House Fox is charged with a $10K fine but gets to keep the $365K he stole. He should have to made restitution at 5 times the rate he made.
The people of Rhode Island earned the reputation as buffoons, now let them figure out how to elminate that image, without any taxpayers money.
Ed you are right, but it’s also on a nationial level. Look at the great Sean Hannity who portrays himself as the second coming of Christ. How the republicans can do no wrong, and on Friday nights he has a mayor on national TV on the great, great, American panel who has served time for public corruption.
I don’t watch Fox News. Buddy Cianci was on. The news services I like are BBC, Bloomberg, Christian Science Monitor, and Washington Post. I would take Al Jezzeria over Fox news channel.
Ed you’re 100% right. Albert, sorry but your point of view is one of the things that helps RI stay a sewer. I’ve heard it said by people in this state that we’re not so bad because the whole country is like us. Not so, this cesspool is not alone but certainly unique. And as long as RI is controlled by the public employee unions and our bought and paid for GA, nothing will ever change. So nothing will ever change.
Well gloat with Fox News next time they promote a convicted Mayor of a Capitial city giving his opinion on how the country should go…….. If that is a great American, you have issues.
How many times can you work Fox news into this?
Cianci has a local radio show and is a “consultant” at local ABC6. Cianci is a local story and a local disgrace.
White & Taricani would not be worth their exhorbitant contracts without the goodfellas in RI.