Category: debate

Rhode Island Lawmakers Consider Raise in Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers

Brad Fagan / Flickr

Brad Fagan / Flickr

In a move that could hurt small restaurants in Rhode Island, lawmakers consider a raise in the minimum wage for tipped workers. The current rate now is $2.89 an hour, which Representative Aaron Regunberg proposed it be raised to $4.50 in 2016.

Regunberg acknowledges that the state has not changed this rate in almost 20 years, and other states such as New York and Massachusetts have recently arranged to make similar adjustments.

The Providence Democrat proposes not just that is raises in 2016, but also that it would reach $9 in 2019, and be equivalent to the regular minimum wage by 2020.

More than 150 people went to the statehouse to voice their opinions on this bill. As expected, this faced some backlash but also some praise.

Some restaurant owners argue that this bill is unnecessary due to the circumstances that the tipped worker does not earn the state’s minimum wage of $9 per hour, than the restaurant has to compensate them for the balance.

However tipped workers would agree that the salary they are working on right now is tight and sometimes not enough to support a family. The current rate in Rhode Island is lower than surrounding states, with a rate of $4.58 an hour in Vermont and $3 an hour in Massachusetts, which is also considering similar legislation to eventually eliminate the two-tiered wage system.

Nearly 70 percent of Rhode Island’s tipped workers are women, and they are more likely than workers in other sectors to live in poverty and use food stamps, according to Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which advocates for the nation’s restaurant workforce.

Governor Gina Raimondo recently approved of a bill to raise the actual minimum wage from $9 to $10.10, and has directed the state’s Department of Labor and Training to study how tipped workers are paid and measures of the existing law. 

There will be much more research and discussion on this matter before any official changes are made, but it is definitely an issue that could make it or break it for small restaurants in the state.

Elorza vs. Cianci: Who Will Claim Providence?

The stakes are very high for residents of Providence. Days away until the people will decide who they want to run their city. Democrat Jorge Elorza is focusing on building community schools, a concept that has not been initiated in New England yet. He is running against Independent Buddy Cianci, a two-time convicted felon and former Providence mayor, who talks about expanding the waterfront. Hawk the Vote will be covering all of election night to broadcast live coverage and stay updated on this controversial race to city hall.

Hawk the Vote Debate: College Democrats vs College Republicans

BRISTOL, R.I.__The Roger Williams University chapter of Society of Professional Journalists and the Hawk the Vote campaign media lab cosponsored a political debate between the College Democrats and College Republicans.

This debate was regarding local Rhode Island politics and the gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Gina Raimondo and Republican Allan Fung. Each political party backed their respective candidates and discussed their take on the most important issues.

The first question was about the job market in Rhode Island and the lack of college students staying in the state after they graduate.

Dylan Kelly, of the college Republicans made an interesting remark about this issue, commonly referred to as the brain drain.

“Rhode Island’s biggest export is college students,” said Kelly.

Though the first few questions did not spark much controversy, the ethical question about Raimondo’s high school, La Salle Academy, which removed Raimondo’s photo from the wall of notable alumni, got things heated up.

The Democrats stated that they are pro-choice and think that it was completely wrong of the school, when they should be proud to have a prominent woman like Raimondo as an alumni.

The Republican’s stance was less clear as they first stated that as a private Catholic institution, La Salle Academy has the right to remove any photos that go against the school’s beliefs, which are very strongly pro-life.

However, then Republicans said if they were the principle of La Salle Academy, they would handle the situation differently and not remove the picture.

Overall, the debate was riveting and after each side made closing statements, the RWU journalism reporters asked the parties more specific questions geared toward their beats.

“I think Jorge Elorza is a great person to succeed Angel Taveras, they have a lot of the great same policies,” said Democrat Dylan VanDrimlen. “Angel was very successful in moving the city forward, and I believe Jorge has some new and fresh ideas that can not only improve upon that, but can push the city to a better, more economic standpoint.”