>> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT BROWN UNIVERSITY TURNS INTO PROTEST.

PROVIDENCE IS PREPARING TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OVER CITY SCHOOLS BUT WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING USJIM: ON THE PANEL, SUE CIENKI, FORMER CHAIR OF THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY.

COLONISTS DAN MCGOWAN, AND POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR BOB WALSH.

IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU AGAIN THIS WEEK.

ON MOST DAYS, THE PRESIDENT OF BROWN UNIVERSITY IS PROBABLY A GOOD JOB.

CHRISTINA PAXSON HAS HAD HER HANDFUL SINCE, SLADE ATTACK ON ISRAEL -- HAMAS LAID ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

ANYTHING THE PRESIDENT SAYS SEEMS TO AGGRAVATE SOME GROUP ON CAMPUS.

BROWN HAS BECOME A MICROCOSM FOR WHAT IS GOING ON AT MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LET'’S START WITH A RESIDENT BROWN GRADUATE.

I AM SURE THERE WERE PROTESTS WHEN YOU WERE THERE IN THE 1800S.

>> WE WERE PRO NORTH.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: THERE YOU GO.

THIS IT.

>> IT DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT FEEL TO IT.

I AM TRYING TO PROCESS IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS GET COVERED IN THE MEDIA.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING PASSAGE OTHER.

I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION A LOT WITH PEOPLE I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH AND THERE IS GREAT CONCERN.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN COMFORTABLE WHEN STUDENTS AT BROWN WILSHIRE DONE VISITING GUESTS.

THAT IS NOT WHAT A COLLEGE CAMPUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE.

WHEN THEY SHUTDOWN THE PRESIDENT, THAT IS A BIG DEAL, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A VISUAL -- VIGIL FOR A STUDENT THAT WAS INJURED IN A HATE CRIME.

THAT SAID, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED TO POP IT FOR SO LONG, THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXPERTS THAT CAN GIVE SOME ADVICE.

I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE ARRESTED THE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN UNIVERSITY HALL, AT LEAST NOT IMMEDIATELY.

THERE IS AN OLD CARTOON JOKE WHERE YOU SHOW THEM WHERE THE BRANDY AND CIGARS ARE AND YOU LET THEM STAY AS LONG AS THEY WANT.

IF THEY GET TOO ANNOYED, PUT ON FOX NEWS AND THEY WILL LEAVE EVENTUALLY.

IT WAS PREDICTABLE DETRACTORS WOULD BE DROPPED.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO ACTUALLY BREAK THE LAW KNOWING THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES, THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS NO-FAULT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

IF YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE NO CONSEQUENCES, IT IS COMMUNITY THEATER.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER, THEY ARE NOT GETTING TO COMMON GROUND ON SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES.

IF I WANT TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH STUDENTS CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE, AND THAT IS NOT AN UNREASONABLE POSITION TO TAKE, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY BELIEVE ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST WHICH I BELIEVE.

IF THEY SAY NO AND THEY DON'’T CARE THAT THE SAYING FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA IS THE SAME LANGUAGE USED BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WIPE OUT ISRAEL, I DON'’T THINK WE CAN HAVE A FURTHER DIALOGUE.

IF THEY AGREE IT HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST, WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

SUE: I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: THERE MAY BE SOME COMMON GROUND HERE.

JUST WAIT FOR THE OTHER TOPIC.

SUE: IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS VIGIL WAS INTERRUPTED BY SOME ACTORS IN THE BACK SCREAMING AT THE PRESIDENT WHO ACTUALLY GAVE THEM A FORUM TO COME TOGETHER AND BE THERE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER.

I AM GOING TO SAY I AGREE WITH BOB THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING AROUND EACH OTHER AND NOT WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE IS A LACK OF EDUCATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE AREA.

DOES ISRAEL HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXIST?

PEOPLE DON'’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IN DICKER-ROD -- WHAT IS IN THE KORAN.

THAT IS ALL OF OUR FAULT FOR NOT EDUCATING THE YOUTH OF AMERICA OF THE WORDS THEY ARE SAYING FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA CTUALLY MEANS.

WHO WOULD THINK THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE ON BROWN CAMPUS DON'’T FEEL SAFE ANYMORE?

THEY DON'’T FEEL SAFE IN COLUMBIA, A LOT OF THESE COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM HAS RISEN TO THE LEVEL IT HAS NOW?

>> THIS IS WHEE THESE DEBATES SHOULD BE HAPPENING, LIKE THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE BOB WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY YEAR OVER SOME ISSUE.

THIS ONE IS HEIGHTENED, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LOT OF TIMES THE PROGRESS -- THE PROTESTS HAPPENED.

THIS IS THE KIND OF THING YOU SIGN UP FOR WHEN YOU GO TO BROWN , MEANING THE DISCUSSION, THE DEBATE.

YOU DON'’T SIGN UP TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING IF YOU ARE A JEWISH STUDENT OR IF YOU ARE A PALESTINIAN STUDENT.

I SHOULD SAY ALSO I THINK PRESIDENT PAXSON -- BOB, YOU PROBABLY KNOW BETTER -- SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT PRESIDENT.

SHE IS DOING WHAT SHE IS SUPPOSED TO.

THIS WAS A NO WIN SITUATION.

THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD REALLY DO.

I TEND TO AGREE ABOUT THE YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO SEE A SCENARIO WHERE STUDENTS -- NO ONE WAS GETTING LOCKED UP FOR TRESPASSING.

YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THOSE CHARGES WERE NOT GOING TO BE DROPPED.

BOB: THE ONE MISTAKE THEY DID MAKE THAT I WILL CALL THEM OUT ON, THINKING YOU CAN EXCLUDE THE PRESS -- TECHNICALLY IT IS A PRIVATE CAMPUS.

BUT THINKING YOU CAN EXCLUDE THE PRESS IN A DAY AND AGE WHEN WE ARE CARRYING SOMETHING TO RECORD ACT -- RECORD ALL ACTIVITIES WAS A MISTAKE.

DAN: THERE IS A WAY TO HANDLE THAT CONVERSATION.

JIM: AND IT DIDN'’T MATTER ANYWAY.

SUE: RIGHT -- BOB: RIGHT.

DAN: THERE IS A WAY TO SAY TO REPORTERS THIS IS ABOUT A STUDENT WHO WAS WOUNDED, CAN YOU GIVE US A BREAK?

IF YOU CAN COVER IT BUT THAT'’S NOT STICK A CAMERA IN FRONT OF EVERY STUDENT'’S FACE AND GIVE THEM AN OPINION WHETHER THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT OR NOT.

THEY CHOSE TO TAKE A HEAVY HAND AND WHAT DO REPORTERS DO?

WE GET MAD.

JIM: AND NIGHTLY NEWS HAD A REPORTER THERE.

THEY FULLY GIVE THEM ACCESS.

CLASS OF STUDENTS IN LIBRARIES, THEY SET UP INTERVIEWS.

WHAT IS THAT, THESE ARE THE INTERVIEWS WE LIKE?

SUE: YOU HAVE THE RISE OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM.

STUDENTS TWEETING OUT AT THE SAME TIME.

JIM: YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE MESSAGE.

SUE: RIGHT.

BOB: SOMEONE SENT ME THAT CLIP AND I WATCHED THE CLIP AND IT WAS A DELIGHT CLIP.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN EVENT AT NIGHT, I DON'’T KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THIS FOOTAGE.

THE ACTUAL EVENT WAS AT NIGHT.

WE HAD 800 KIDS PROBABLY VIDEO IT.

I WAS HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY WITH A FRIEND TO IS A JOURNALISM PROFESSOR IN D.C. ABOUT THE NBC COVERAGE VERSUS THE LOCAL COVERAGE AND WHERE THE MISMATCHES OCCURRED.

DAN: IT IS NOT ABOVE BROWN UNIVERSITY TO DO THE SITUATION WHERE YOU CALL THE NEW YORK TIMES.

JIM: IT IS THE GINA RAIMONDO PLAYBOOK.

[LAUGHTER] BOB: I DON'’T KNOW BUT IT WAS SURPRISING.

SUE: WHAT IS INTERESTING WAS HOW MANY STUDENTS GO TO BROWN AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE AT THIS VIGIL.

WHERE THEIR STUDENTS GOING ABOUT THEIR REGULAR DAY AND IGNORING WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

BOB: I CAN TELL YOU WITH CERTAINTY THAT IS CORRECT.

A VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WERE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS AND DOING EXACTLY WHAT COLLEGE STUDENTS DO.

SUE: YOU GET A SMALL GROUP THAT ANTAGONIZES WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- JIM: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, A 70 EVENT WAS WHEN RAY KELLY GOT SHOUTED DOWN -- A PIVOTAL EVENT WAS WHEN RAY KELLY GOT SHOUTED DOWN.

HE WAS THE COMMISSION IN NEW YORK CITY.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME -- PEOPLE TALKING OVER EACH OTHER, THEY WOUND UP SHUTTING HIM DOWN.

THAT SENT APRIL THE MESSAGE.

CLUB HAS THAT BEEN -- THAT SENT A HORRIBLE MESSAGE.

WHAT HAS THAT BEEN, 10 YEARS?

DAN: 10 YEARS, MAYBE.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITUATION ALLOWS STUDENTS TO OBJECT MORE THAN PROBABLY HAVE BEFORE AND UNIVERSITY GETS NERVOUS.

BOB: PROTEST OUTSIDE BUT LET THE DEBATE GO ON INSIDE.

WHEN I WAS IN UNDERGRAD, WE BROUGHT IN A LOT OF INTERESTING PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING A DEBATE BETWEEN PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY WHO IS -- AND THEY HAVE A STRONG EMOTIONAL WHERE THEY DEBATED ON CAMPUSES.

SOME PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A TERRIFIC DEBATE.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT DEBATING.

JIM: WHERE YOU OUT THERE IN YOUR BOXER SHORTS?

BOB: -- I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE EMCEE BUT THEY DID NOT WANT A MAN TO DO IT SO I WAS THE TIMEKEEPER.

SUE: 60 MINUTES USED TO DO POINT COUNTERPOINT.

THAT IS A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

WE DON'’T DO THAT ANYMORE.

JIM: WE COULD DO A WHOLE HALF HOUR ON THIS.

DAN: NOW I WANT YOU GUYS TO DISAGREE A LITTLE.

JIM: MAYBE ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF INTERVIEWS.

DAN HAD A SCUBA COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT A COMMITTEE BEING PUT TOGETHER TO TRANSITION TO GET PROVIDENCE TODAY CONTROL.

THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE THAT MAYOR SMILEY WANTED TO DO IT, THIS IS THE FIRST CONCRETE.

IS A LOT TO GET FROM HERE TO 2020 FIVE.

DAN: IT IS LONGER THAN THAT.

MAYOR SMILEY HAS BEEN VOCAL THAT HE DOES NOT EXPECT TO GET SCHOOLS BACK UNTIL THE 25-26 CLEAR.

HE WOULD PROBABLY PREFER FOR IT TO GO LONGER.

THE MAYOR HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT, IF THE STATE CONTROLS THE SCHOOLS, DON'’T GIVE THEM BACK TO ME UNTIL YOU HAVE MADE CHANGES IN TEACHERS CONTRACT OR ANY NUMBER OF FACETS GOING ON.

IF YOU ARE THE MAYOR POLITICALLY, IT IS GREAT FOR YOU TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES, FORM YOUR COMMITTEE, LOB A FEW BOMBS MUST NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT IS ON THE GOVERNOR AND THE COMMISSIONER.

SUE: I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ELECTRIC BUSES.

JIM: WE CAN TALK ABOUT ELECTRIC BUSES.

SUE: YOU ARE RIGHT, HE HAS BROUGHT IN ELECTRIC BUSES WHICH MAKES NO SENSE.

I AM CONCERNED -- NOT REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE READING SCORES AND THE MATH SCORES.

50 -- IF THE GOVERNOR DOES TAKE CONTROL OF CITY SCHOOLS, YOU CAN BLAME THEM.

JIM: THAT WAS THE NEWS THIS WEEK, THEY BROUGHT ON FOUR LETTER FIVE BUSES WHICH ARE ALMOST THREE TIMES THE COST.

FIRST STUDENT IS DOING THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PROVIDENCE IS AMONG THE FIRST TRANCHE.

WHAT ABOUT THE BUILDING?

SUE: THE MAYOR SAID THIS IS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE STUDENTS AND I SAID HAS HE NEVER STEPPED INTO A PROVIDENCE SCHOOL BUILDING?

YOUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THESE STUDENTS AND THEY ARE NOT BEING EDUCATED.

IT IS EMBARRASSING.

THE TEST SCORES, THEY ARE NOT READING.

IF YOUR CHILD CANNOT READ BY THIRD GRADE AT THIRD GRADE LEVEL, THEIR CHANCES OF EMPLOYMENT DECLINE.

JIM: THAT IS NOT HIS ISSUE, THAT IS THE STATE'’S.

SUE: IF HE WANTS TO TAKE BACK THE SCHOOLS, HE IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO CONTROL, TAKE CONTROL.

JIM: WHAT SAY YOU, MR. EDUCATION?

BOB: THEY DID NOT NEGOTIATE A NEW TEACHERS CONTRACT.

JIM: THEY CALL THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL.

WHERE YOU CALL THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL?

BOB: NO, NOT UNTIL I SEE RESULTS.

THEY HAD AN EXTRA HALF HOUR OF EDUCATION TIME.

THEY PUT IN MARKER.

THEY GOT A ONE YEAR MARKER -- ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

I DON'’T KNOW IF THEY'’RE USING THE EXTRA HALF HOUR PER DAY IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

I HEAR MIXED THINGS AND I NEVER REVISITED PROVIDENCE.

-- I LOVE ALL TEACHERS, THEY ARE ALL TRAINED IN THE SAME PLACE AND TEACHERS IN PROVIDENCE HAVE A LOT OF THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

I WAS SAD WHEN SOME WOULD LEAVE AND COME TO MY DISTRICT.

I DID NOT CONSIDER THAT A VICTORY.

I WISH THEY HAD GOTTEN THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED.

THEN THE PANDEMIC CAME.

WE WILL SEE IF THE EXTRA TIME IS USED WISELY.

THIS IS A VERY LONG-TERM PROCESS.

IF A KID CANNOT READ BY THIRD GRADE AND BY SECOND GRADE, THOSE ARE YOUR LEARNING TO READ YEARS.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS READING TO LEARN BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BE BOLD.

IF YOU DON'’T WANT TO STIGMATIZE, DON'’T CALL IT HOLDING BACK.

JUST SAY WE ARE GOING TO FULLY FOCUS ON MAKING SURE EVERYBODY CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL BEFORE THEY MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.

WE HAVE TO DEDICATE RESOURCES.

I WAS TALKING TO FOLKS FROM A NEW BUSINESS GROUP AND I SAID GREAT, WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.

WE NEED TO GET THE MASSACHUSETTS LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS I DISAGREE WITH OUR CURRENT AND PAST ELECTED LEADERS ON.

FEED ALL OF THE KIDS.

NOT ONLY FEED THEM BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, GIVE THEM 10 OR.

I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW -- I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THE DEBATE THAT SHOULD HAPPEN AT HOME.

KIDS WHO ARE HUNGRY CANNOT LEARN.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO GET TO GREATER OUTCOMES.

SUE: ONE ISSUE IS THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES KIDS SPEAK IN PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS.

THE KIDS CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH.

WHY NOT ESTABLISH YOUR LEARNING ACADEMY WHERE KIDS SPENT TIME THERE RUNNING ENGLISH SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL?

WE DON'’T DO THAT.

DAN: WE DO HAVE A NEWCOMER ACADEMY.

SUE: BUT NOT SUCCESSFUL.

IF THE KID IS THERE FIVE YEARS AND STILL NOT SPEAKING ENGLISH, YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTING THEM.

DAN: TO YOUR POINT, WHILE THEY HAVE A NEWCOMER ACADEMY, THIS IS A NATIONWIDE THING WHERE THE IDEA IS TO MOVE KIDS ALONG.

YOU WANT TO OUT OF THE ESL PROGRAMMING.

JIM: ALL OF THAT STARTS -- BOB: THIS IS THE FIRST FOCUS OF THE GOVERNOR'’S THREE 65.

THIS IS WHY THE GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT ATTENDANCE.

TO HIS CREDIT, WE HAVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT IT, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY -- THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT IT.

YOU CANNOT DO THOSE THINGS UNLESS THE STUDENTS ARE THERE.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

WE HAVE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

DAN: WITH OUR TEACHERS, TOO.

BOB: AND NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE ON EXTENDED MATERNITY LEAVE OR ANYTHING ELSE, YOU DEAL WITH THAT AS WELL.

SUE:.

OFFICERS, THERE WAS A STORY ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE, O'’BRIEN AS A TRICK OFFICER IN -- AS A TRUANT OFFICER.

WHAT DOES A TORT OFFICER -- WHAT IS THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY?

BOB: TRUANT OFFICERS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, BUT THAT IS PLUGGING A LEAK IN THE DAM.

IF THERE IS A SUBSET OF KIDS WHO ARE LIVING AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER AND GOING BACK TO HOME BASE AND NOT COMING BACK UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY, EITHER WE HAD TO CHANGE THE RULES OR WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

JIM: YOU REPORTED THAT ABSENTEEISM -- YOU WOULD THINK MAYOR SMILEY HAS TO GET THAT FIXED WHETHER IT IS UNDER THE STATE OR UNDER HIS CONTROL.

PROVIDENCE IS WHERE THE BIG PROBLEM IS.

DAN: YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE LEADERBOARD, YOU CAN GO ON THEIR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.

WHO IS AT THE TOP?

ALWAYS PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOLS 40% AND 50% CHRONICALLY ABSENT.

KIDS THAT ARE ON TRACK TO A MISSED 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BOB: THAT MEANS THEY'’RE GOING TO MISS 18 YEARS -- 18 DAYS.

JIM: SOME OF THESE FAMILIES ARE SO FRACTURED IT IS HARD TO FIND THEM.

DAN: IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

THIS IS NOT AN ENVIABLE SOLUTION.

THERE IS NOT A PERFECT WAY TO DO THIS.

I THINK BOB -- I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF'’S THE GOVERNOR'’S 355 PLAN.

MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IT ON THIS SHOW.

THAT IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT BEFORE.

IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.

NEXT COMES HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY SOLVE IT.

I HAVE NOT SEEN A GREAT PLAN FOR SOLVING IT YET.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE PUT FORWARD -- JIM: THE FIRST PART OF ALL PLANS IS INFORMATION.

BOB: PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND NOW WE HAVE DATA TO PROVE IT.

SOME OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE PAINFUL CONVERSATIONS.

WHY IS THIS DUDE IS THE STUDENTS NOT IN SCHOOL?

IF IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING AND SUPPORTING A FAMILY -- SUE: THEY ARE NOT BEING STIMULATED.

BOB: WE ARE GRADUATING KIDS EVERY YEAR WHO ARE BEING TAUGHT, WHO ARE LEARNING IN THE PROCESS.

SUE: NOT EVERY KID IS A COOKIE-CUTTER.

WHY DON'’T WE HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE?

JIM: NOW TWO HOURS ON SCHOOL CHOICE.

DAN: THAT IS WHERE SUE AND I AGREE MORE THAN BOB.

JIM: WE ARE GOING TO DO A PPS FUNDRAISER WHERE WE PUT SUE AND BOB ON AN ELECTRIC BUS AND SEE HOW FAR -- WE WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR THEM BECAUSE THE BUS WONT BE ALLOWED.

THEY WILL WRITE AROUND THE CITY -- RIDE AROUND THE CITY AND TALK.

BOB: ALL RESPECT TO SUE AND MYSELF, YOU CAN HEAR US ON A DIESELBUS.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: TELL ME IF YOU HAVE THIS ON YOUR BINGO CARD FOR 2020 THREE, THE NEWPORT PRESERVATION SOCIETY HAS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT TRYING TO BLOCK THE OFFSHORE WIND FARMS.

.

HE IS GOING TO AFFECT THE VIEW FROM THE BREAKERS -- APPARENTLY IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE VIEW FROM THE BREAKERS.

JUDY COX SAID WE SUPPORT GREEN ENERGY.

LET ME TEA THIS UP FOR YOU.

SUE: IT IS INTERESTING.

THERE ARE NOT -- THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES I WOULD NOT AGREE WITH TRUDY COX ON.

I DON'’T AGREE WITH HER REASONING IS THAT THE VIEW IS GOING TO BE BLOCKED.

IT GOES TO A LARGE ARGUMENT ABOUT THESE WIND TURBINES.

WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY THIS IS GOING TO SOLVE OUR ENERGY NEEDS, IT IS RIDICULOUS.

WHERE THE TURBINES ONLY WORK 42% OF THE TIME.

YOU STILL NEED OIL, THE GAS, YOU ARE DISTURBING FISHING, THE ENVIRONMENT, KILLING WHALES, KILLING THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

THAT IS A LOT TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WITH THE OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE, IT IS NOT RELIABLE ENERGY.

IS A BAD IDEA.

SOLAR AND WIND ARE NOT RELIABLE.

WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT NUCLEAR, TALKING ABOUT NATURAL GAS, TALKING ABOUT AND MULTITUDE OF THINGS.

JIM:.

SHE WAS ALSO PROCESS, THAT THIS WAS JAMMED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE FISHERMEN TALKING TO CRMC AND ALL OF THAT.

DAN: THE PRESERVATIONISTS COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

YOU TALK ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY OR BLOCKING MY VIEWS, EVERYBODY'’S EYES GLAZE OVER AND THINK YOU ARE BEING RIDICULOUS.

JIM: BECAUSE OF THE 195 THING THEY WANTED TO BUILD AND FINK TOWER WAS ANOTHER THING.

DAN: THEY ARE FIGHTING KNOCKING DOWN THE WORST CITY IN PROVIDENCE BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS FROM THE OUTSIDE, NOT EVEN FROM THE INSIDE.

ONCE YOU REALIZE HOW RIDICULOUS YOU ARE BIDDING ON ONE ARGUMENT, THEN WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU ARGUE ABOUT THE PROCESS OF IT.

THEN THEY WILL FIND A REASON TO BE MAD.

BOB: THE IRONY OF THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED.

TRUDY COX WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL EMPLOYEES OF SAVE THE DAY.

I GAVE HER AN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD DURING BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST.

SHE HAS MADE TWO MISTAKES, THIS ONE AND IN 1990 SHE RAN AGAINST JACK REED FOR CONGRESS.

ON THIS SHOW, SHE LOOKED AT THAT CAMERA AND SAID I DON'’T OWN ANY OIL STOCKS AND SHE DID.

THAT WAS THE COMMERCIAL THAT BROUGHT HER DOWN.

YOU MADE A MISTAKE THERE, YOU HAD A TERRIFIC CAREER BEFORE AND AFTER YOU ARE WRONG ON THIS ISSUE.

DAN: I THOUGHT I HAD INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

I KNEW ABOUT THAT OF THAT.

JIM: THAT IS A DEEP "LIVELY" THROWBACK.

SUE: HER ARGUMENT ABOUT IT IS GOING TO RUIN OUR VIEW IS RIDICULOUS.

WHAT IS REALLY RIDICULOUS IS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING RELYING ON THESE WIND TURBINES.

IT IS GOING TO ESTROY THE OCEAN STATE.

FOR WHAT?

SOMETHING THAT IS COSTLY.

BOB: CLEAN AIR.

SUE: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET THAT.

THAT IS MY HISTORY, ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY.

I AM LOOKING AT THESE PEOPLE GOING WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY?

BOB: DISPOSAL PROBLEMS, THAT IS WHY.

SUE: YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPENED 40 YEARS AGO.

BOB: IT IS STILL AN ISSUE.

SUE: EVERYTHING YOU TRY TO TALK ABOUT HAS A DOWNSIDE.

EVERYTHING.

BOB: THAT IS A BIG DOWNSIDE.

ENOUGH TO CONCERN OUR ENVIRONMENT OFFENSE.

WE OVERLAP SOMEWHAT IN THIS AREA.

SUE: THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE WIND TURBINES.

THAT ARE NOT GOING TO PRODUCE THE LEVEL OF ENERGY.

JIM: ECONOMICS SEEM TO BE CHANGING IN TERMS OF THE WORD ALWAYS WAS WE NEED GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO GET UP AND RUNNING.

THAT SEEMS TO HAVE SHIFTED.

DAN: YOU ARE SAYING OR STEAD MAKING MAJOR CHANGES IN NORTH AMERICA.

RHODE ISLAND, SUE AND BOB, THIS IS WHERE THEY DISAGREE, BUT RHODE ISLAND HAS CHOSEN TO GET IN BED WITH ORSTEAD AND THE WIND INDUSTRY.

I WORK DOWNTOWN IN THE CSE BUILDING IN PROVIDENCE.

HAVE THE OCCUPANTS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WIND INDUSTRY.

OIF ORSTEAD STARTS TO PULL BACK, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS.

SUE: THE COMMITMENT WAS IN 2019 BEFORE COVID.

THAT IS WHY ORSTAED STICKING AROUND.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO OUTRAGES AND/OR KUDOS.

SUE: NO OUTRAGE THIS WEEK BUT KUDOS TO REED'’S ACROSS AMERICA ON DECEMBER 16 AT THE EXETER VETERANS CEMETERY, THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL CEREMONY AND ANYBODY THAT HAS NOT PARTICIPATED -- JIM: TELL ME ABOUT THIS.

SUE: READ ACROSS AMERICA -- WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA, YOU HAVE CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND THEY PUT THEM ON VETERAN GRAVESITES.

IT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

THEY ARE DOING IT SATURDAY AT 11:45 AND IT IS REALLY A VERY MOVING CEREMONY.

I PARTICIPATE EVERY YEAR.

JIM: THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT A WHILE?

SUE: THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT AND LONGTIME.

IT IS A WONDERFUL ACTIVITY FOR CHRISTMAS AND TO REMEMBER VETERANS.

THEY TELL YOU TO STAND THERE AND SAY THANKS ON EACH GRAVE.

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE GO AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

BOB: FREE ADVICE.

FOR TIME IS A CHARM BECAUSE I'’M NOT INVOLVED IN THE NEW COMPENSATION STUDY.

I AM PAYING ATTENTION SINCE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE LAST THREE.

I THINK THE ACTIVE EMPLOYEES ARE WELL REPRESENTED IN THEIR REQUEST -- THEIR REQUEST TO GET OTHER BENEFITS IN THE GINA RAIMONDO CUTS.

THE RETIREES ARE STRUGGLING TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES AND THEY WILL BE MAD AT ME FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS BUT THEY NEED THE ADVICE.

IF YOU TELL PEOPLE THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR YOU THAT WILL SATISFY YOU, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THE TENDENCY TO DO NOTHING.

THE SELF-APPOINTED LEADERS OF THESE RETIREE GROUPS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN PROSECUTED AND PERSECUTING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST INSTEAD OF MAKING A PORTENT -- AN IMPORTANT CASE ABOUT HOW INFLATION IN THE LAST DECADE HAS HURT THEM AND HURT THEM GREATLY.

THEY ARE GOING TO END UP GETTING NOTHING BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE INSULTING FOLKS.

TELL HOW IT HAS HURT YOU BUT DO IT IN A RESPECTFUL WAY.

DON'’T TALK ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

JIM: YOU GET THE LAST 45 SECONDS.

DAN: I AM GOING TO BORROW SUE'’S RED JACKET AND BE CRITICAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHICH HAD THE AUDACITY ON GIVING TUESDAY TO PUT OUT AN EMAIL SEEKING DONATIONS TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY, PUT OUT A LIST OF NONPROFITS, DO ANY OTHER THANKS.

DO NOT SOLICIT POLITICAL DONATIONS ON A DAY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING BACK.

JIM: I SAW YOU TWEET THAT.

THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

IT IS KNOWN IT IS FOR THE NONPROFIT WORLD.

DAN: CLEARLY.

SUE: I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THE HEAD TROLL PETER NERONHA.

JIM: THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER SHOW.

WE DID NOT GET TO THAT, I AM SO SORRY.

BOB: WE ARE THE PARTY OF LOVE.

WE HAVE PETER NERONHA AND AMORE.

JIM: WE HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD WEEK OFF AS WE DID, COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL HAVE ALL THE POLITICAL NEWS PLUS ANALYSIS.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

>> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS EA