>> THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, EMAILS RELEASED BY THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF TANSPORTATION GIVE A TIMELINE OF WHAT LED TO DECEMBER’S CLOSURE OF THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

AND THE POLICE CHIEF IN PROVIDENCE REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI.

I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR.. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

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

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL, REPORTER AND CONTRIBUTOR STEPH MACHADO, PROVIDENCE COLLEGE PROFESSOR ADAM MYERS, AND POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR DON ROACH.

WELCOME TO LIVELY.

I JIM HUMMEL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

THE D.O.T.’S RELEASE OF A TRANCHE OF EMAILS ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE HAD REPORTERS WEEDING THROUGH THE FLURRY OF COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ENGINEERS AND HIGHER-UPS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

TO FILL SOME OF THE GAPS TO A STORY THAT’S CHANGED DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO.

I DON’T KNOW WHETHER YOU DREW THE LONG OR THE SHORT STRAW HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS BUT THIS WAS YOUR ASSIGNMENT.

STEPH: YES AND WE MADE THIS REQUEST BACK WHEN THE BRIDGE CLOSED I THINK SEVEN WEEKS AGO NOW AND WE CERTAINLY DID NOT GET ALL THE EMAILS WE ASKED FOR OR WERE EXCHANGED AMONG D.O.T.

EMPLOYEES ABOUT THIS BRIDGE BUT WE FINALLY GOT TO SEE THIS CLEARLY FROM AN ENGINEER ON FRIDAY, THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE BRIDGE CLOSED, SAYING THERE WAS A CRITICAL FINDING IN THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, A-ROD FAILED, AND THE RESPONSE HE RECEIVED WAS THERE’S NOTHING YOU NEED TO DO IMMEDIATELY.

THAT’S WHAT THE DOT SAID.

BUT BY MONDAY, THEY WERE SHUTTING DOWN THE BRIDGE.

WHAT WAS MISSING FROM THIS TRANCHE OF EMAILS WAS WHAT TRANSPIRED IN BETWEEN THE CRITICAL FINDING ON FRIDAY AND THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE BRIDGE MONDAY.

WE DO KNOW GOVERNOR MCKEE SAYS HE WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS UNTIL MONDAY.

>> I DO NOT THINK I’M AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE THREE DAY DELAY.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU MIGHT TAKE TIME TO VALIDATE IT.

BUT WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THEM SAYING IT WAS FROM CATASTROPHIC EVENT BUT NOW WE ARE HEARING THAT IT DEFINITELY WAS MORE WEAR AND TEAR.

THAT CONCERNS ME.

JIM: ADAM?

ADAM: I’M THINKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

JIM: IT’S GOOD IT’S NOT AN ELECTION YEAR.

ADAM: THAT’S WHAT I WAS THINKING IN DECEMBER WHEN THIS ALL BROKE, THAT WE WOULD FORGET ABOUT THIS BY 2026, BUT NOW I’M NOT SURE.

IF, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKES YEARS FOR THE BRIDGE TO BE REBUILT OR FIXED, AS IT SEEMS LIKELY AT THIS POINT, AND IF THE DOJ, YOU KNOW, GETS INVOLVED, WHICH THEY ARE REQUESTING CERTAIN DOCUMENTS FROM THE D.O.T.

AT THIS POINT, THEN THIS COULD END UP KIND OF BECOMING A VERY SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT STATE POLITICS IN A FEW YEARS.

STEPH: I’M CURIOUS ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE D.O.T.’S FUTURE.

WE KNOW GOVERNOR MCKEE HAS STAUNCHLY DEFENDED -- IT TURNS OUT THAT THE D.O.T.

WAS NOT MAINTAINING THE BRIDGE AND THIS FAILURE OF THESE RODS ACTUALLY DATE BACK FARTHER THAN WE THOUGHT.

BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUESTIONS.

DIRECTOR ALVITI HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THIS FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND I THINK THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FUTURE.

JIM: I DON’T KNOW WHY THE GOVERNOR DID NOT SAY THIS BEFORE BUT HE WAS ON A RADIO INTERVIEW AND HE GOT POUNDED FOR WHY WERE YOU NOT AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE?

NOW WE KNOW WHY.

HE DID NOT REALLY KNOW UNTIL THAT DAY SO IT STRIKES ME THE GOVERNOR’S POSITION HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT TO SAY, HEY, THIS WAS THEIR ISSUE AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE GOVERNOR.

DID THAT STRIKE YOU?

ADAM: HE WILL SAY THAT.

AND I THINK IT’S CREDIBLE.

JIM: ALMOST LIKE LET ME GET A LITTLE DISTANCE FROM THIS NOW.

ADAM: BUT THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SO, AS I SAID, I THINK IF THIS DRAGS ON FOR A LONG TIME AND COMMUTERS CONTINUE TO FEEL THE HIT, THIS WILL AFFECT HIM.

NOT THAT HE DIDN’T A GREAT POSITION -- THAT HE IS IN A GREAT POSITION ANYWAY.

THERE’S ALL THESE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN DECEMBER 8 AND 11?

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN JULY, WHEN THE BRIDGE PASSED INSPECTION, AND DECEMBER?

VERSE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON’T KNOW.

IT’S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT PERCENTAGE OF RHODE ISLANDERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS AT THE MOMENT.

JIM: YOU HAVE 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE EAST BAY PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT.

ADAM: BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON’T KNOW.

I DON’T LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY.

I DON’T TRAVERSE 195 ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AT THIS POINT IT’S KIND OF A MINOR INCONVENIENCE.

BUT MINOR INCONVENIENCES OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME CAN BECOME MAJOR.

DON: I DON’T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT A MINOR INCONVNIENCE.

IF IT HAD ONLY TAKEN A FEW WEEKS TO FIX THE BRIDGE OR IF THERE WAS A TIMELINE FOR WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED, THEN PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT’S A MINOR INCONVENIENCE, BUT WHEN THEY START SAYING IT IS -- IT WILL TAKE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT NOW IT’S INDEFINITE TO WHEN THE BRIDGE WILL BE FIXED OR YOU MIGHT NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRIDGE, YOU START TO QUESTION, LIKE WHEN YOU’RE ON THE ROAD, IS THIS BRIDGE SAFE?

YOU HAVE SUCH TRAFFIC AND YOU ARE LIKE -- I FEEL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THAT SIDE OF THE STATE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF CALM AND DIRECTION AND THAT’S NOT WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

JIM: BUT I ALSO THINK IF YOU ARE PLAYING BASKETBALL FOR NARRAGANSETT AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO MOUNT HOPE OR EAST PROVIDENCE, THAT’S A PROBLEM.

SO IT’S NOT JUST AN E SPACE THING.

STEPH: THIS IS NOT BOSTON.

WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

SO EVEN A 20 MINUTE DELAY IN OUR COMMUTE -- OUR LIVES, SCHEDULES, THESE THINGS ARE NOT REALLY BEING PLANNED AROUND THE FACT THAT YOU MIGHT BE IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE NORM.

EVEN THOUGH 20 MINUTES IN THE SCOPE OF WHAT IT COULD BE, WHAT IT WAS THE FIRST WEEK WHEN THE BRIDGE SHUT DOWN, MIGHT SEEM MINOR, IT IS CAUSING A LOT OF HASSLE.

THEN PEOPLE ARE THINKING AHEAD TO HOW MUCH WORSE WILL THE TRAFFIC BE WHEN THEY START REPAIRING THE BRIDGE AND CLOSING MORE LANES AND ALL OF THAT?

DON: AND AS THE TAXPAYER GOING TO BEAR THE COST?

JIM: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS INTERESTED NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WHENEVER WE HAVE REPORTERS ON, WIKI OUT ON THE OPEN RECORD SITUATION -- ON, WE GEEK OUT ON THE OPEN RECORD SITUATION.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT CHARGING FOR THESE EMAILS.

THESE ARE NOT PRINTED COPIES.

THESE ARE EMAILS.

THE THING THAT KILLS ME IS WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING?

YOU HAVE PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY A LARGE AGENCY.

IT’S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE TO STAY OVERTIME.

THAT BOTHERS ME.

STEPH: WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS IS NOT CHARGING FOR THE RECORDS BUT FOR THE HOURS -- JIM: IT ALLOWS BUT DOES NOT MANDATE.

STEPH: AND WHEN RECORDS ARE IN THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST, WHICH THERE IS NO DOUBT THESE RECORDS WERE, THAT FEE SHOULD BE WAIVED.

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE RECORDS PERIOD AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE HAS REFUNDED THE NEWS OUTLETS THAT DID HAVE TO PAY.

A NUMBER DID NOT HAVE TO PAY, INCLUDING THE BOSTON GLOBE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE RECOGNITION FROM THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST THEY ARE PAYING THESE PEOPLE TO RETRIEVE THESE RECORDS AND THEY SHOULD BE RELEASED WITHOUT ANY FEES.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THAT?

ADAM: I SUPPOSE IT MAKES SENSE.

I WAS CURIOUS WHY THEY CHARGED DIFFERENT MEDIA UTLETS DIFFERENT AMOUNTS.

THE JOURNAL GOT CHARGED $450.

STEPH: I INITIALLY PUT IN A REQUEST THAT WAS RATHER BROAD AND SENT AN INVOICE SAYING PAY $450.

I THEN SUBMITTED A MORE NARROW REQUEST AND MY SECOND REQUEST I WAS TOLD I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.

SO I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHAT THE OTHER OUTLETS REQUESTED BUT WHAT THE D.O.T.

TOLD THEM WAS THAT THE REQUESTS WERE DIFFERENT, BUT ULTIMATELY WE ALL GOT THE SAME MATERIAL, AND THAT’S ANOTHER REASON WHY PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED.

I THINK THE D.O.T.

IS SAYING WE WILL BE MORE CONSISTENT IN THE FUTURE BUT I DON’T THINK CHARGING EVERYONE IS THE ANSWER.

THEN YOU ARE DOUBLE DIPPING.

YOU ARE NOT PAYING FOR THE RECORDS BUT THE TIME WORK SO EACH NEWS OUTLET SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR WHATEVER TIME WAS WORKED.

YOU SHOULD JUST WAIVE THE FEES IN THESE INSTANCES.

JIM: IT IS ALSO A DETERRENT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

WE ARE USED TO GOING IN THERE AND BEING AGGRESSIVE.

I PAID FOR A REQUEST ONCE IN 20 YEARS.

I WAS DOING A STORY IN THE APP IN -- IN THE CIRCULATOR.

I HAD NEVER HAD TO PAY FOR PUBLIC RECORDS.

STEPH: I ALSO NEVER PAID.

JIM: AND WHY WOULD YOU WIN IT’S A TOOL TO DO YOUR JOB AND IT’S NO EXTRA?

THOUGHTS ON THAT?

ADAM: I HAVE NO IDEA.

TO ME, ALL I CAN THINK OF IS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE NOT USED TO BENG ACCOUNTABLE AND THINKING THROUGH HOW IS THIS GOING TO LOOK.

THAT’S ALL I CAN THINK OF.

JIM: IN SOME PLACES IN THE STATE, YOU CANNOT GET A REPUBLICAN TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

IN CRANSTON, WE HAVE TWO WHO WANT TO BE MAYOR, THE INCUMBENT FACING A CHALLENGE FROM BARBARA ANN FENTON-FUNG.

SHE IS THE WIFE OF FORMER MAYOR ALLAN FUNG.

YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF CRANSTON POLITICS SO SET THE STAGE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE PAYING ATTENTION.

ARE YOU SURPRISED?

>> I’M COMPLETELY UNSURPRISED THAT BOTH ARE RUNNING.

I THINK SINCE MAYOR HOPKINS HAS COME INTO OFFICE THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND SOME OF THE MOVES HE’S MADE AND CERTAINLY MAYOR FUNG, NO SECRET, IT IS MY FAVORITE POLITICIAN.

SO BARBARA ANN IS DOING WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO IN TERMS OF RUNNING FOR THIS POSITION AND SHE FEELS SHE CAN DO A GOOD JOB AND FEELS LIKE THERE ARE THINGS THAT MAYOR HOPKINS HAS NOT DONE AS WELL.

SO IT’S GOING TO BE A BATTLE.

STEPH: I’M FASCINATED BY THE BREAKDOWN IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FUNGS AND CAN HOPKINS BECAUSE THEY SUPPORTED HIM SUCCEEDING ALLAN FUNG AS MAYOR OF CRANSTON.

THEY HAD A JOINT ELECTION PARTY IN 2020, WHEN BARBARA ANN OUSTED THE SPEAKER, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON I DON’T THINK ANYONE SHOULD COUNT HER OUT, BECAUSE SHE HAS TOPPLED AN INCUMBENT BEFORE, BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT RUPTURED THAT RELATIONSHIP TO THE POINT THAT SHE IS NOW PRIMARY EATING -- NOW PRIMARYING HIM.

>> I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH STEPH ’S COLLEAGUE AND I ASKED WHAT WILL BE -- AND HE ASKED WHAT WILL BE THE MARQUIS ELECTION IN RHODE ISLAND THIS YEAR?

I SAID THE CRANSTON MAYORAL RACE BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER COMPETITIVE RACE.

THE BIG ELECTORAL ACTION IN RHODE ISLAND WILL BE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST, I THINK ABOUT THE ELECTORAL DYNAMICS OF THIS.

THEY WILL OVERLAP WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WON CRANSTON SUBSTANTIALLY IN 2020.

AT THE SAME TIME, MAYOR HOPKINS DEFEATED HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER SUBSTANTIALLY.

>> THAT SHOWS YOU VOTERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> I AM IMPRESSED.

THAT’S A LEVEL OF TICKET SPLITTING WE RARELY SEE IN POLITICS TODAY AND I THINK IT INDICATES -- AND DON CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS -- THAT THE CRANSTON REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS MANAGED TO DEVELOP A DISTINCT IDENTITY FROM THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I THINK BOTH CANDIDATES, BOTH MAYOR HOPKINS AND REPRESENTATIVE FENTON-FUNG, HAVE A MORE MODERATE REPUTATION.

I DON’T THINK THAT NECESSARILY CHANGES THIS YEAR BUT IF THEY DUKE IT OUT DURING THE PRIMARY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY COMES OUT WEAKENED, THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, I GUESS COUNCILMAN FERRI, THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

DON: AND COUNCILMAN FERRI WAS A REPUBLICAN WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2020.

I RAN WITH HIM.

THE PARADOX IS ALLAN FUNG WAS A POPULAR MAYOR AND HE WOULD BUCK THE TRENDS OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS AND KEN IS A FORMER TEACHER IN THE CRANSTON SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THERE’S A SAYING THAT ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL SO HERE BARBARA ANN WILL BE A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT.

BUT ALSO, MAYOR HOPKINS WILL HAVE A BATTLE BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SWEAR BY HIM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SWEAR BY FUNG.

AND SO I’M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

JIM: THEY HAD A BUTTON I SAW SOMEBODY POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT HAS ALLAN FUNG’S FACE AND IT SAYS VOTE FOR ALLAN FUNG AS FIRST GENTLEMAN.

STEPH: THAT’S GREAT.

JIM: IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT’S BEEN A YEAR SINCE PROVIDENCE POLICE CHIEF OSCAR PEREZ TOOK OVER FOR THE DEPARTING HUGH CLEMENTS.

STEPH DID A PIECE FOR RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH IT.

WE WILL TELL YOU HOW BUT WE WILL PLAY A SHORT CLIP.

SHE HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CHIEF TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES HE’S BEEN FACING.

STEPH: VIOLENT CRIME ROSE IN THE CITY IN 2023 AFTER A HISTORICALLY LOW YEAR IN 2022.

THERE WERE 54 SHOOTINGS, UP FROM 2022, AND 14 HOMICIDES AFTER THAT DROPPED TO SINGLE DIGITS IN 2022.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WENT UP AND IS THAT THE START OF A TREND?

CH.

PEREZ: VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY IS TRENDING DOWN.

FOR YEARS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT 14 HOMICIDES, ONE IS TOO MANY.

WE ARE STILL BELOW THE AVERAGE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT DATA -- 86% OF THE HOMICIDES, A FIREARM WAS USED AT 86% OF THE VICTIMS WERE MALES BETWEEN 18 AND 30 OF COLOR SO YOUNG MEN IN OUR CITY ARE GETTING KILLED.

AS A PERSON OF COLOR WHO GREW UP IN THE CITY, IT’S SAD TO SEE THAT.

FOR ME TO SAVE -- TO SAY I’M GOING TO PREVENT EVERY HOMICIDE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE SEIZED 312 GUNS, THE MOST WE HAVE SEIZED SINCE 2010.

JIM: YOU CAN WATCH THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL PEREZ ON RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY.

HE APPEARS TO BE A GUY WHO IS QUIETLY DOING HIS JOB.

I KNOW HE’S MAKING INROADS IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE’S NOT FLASHY BUT HE CARRIES A CERTAIN PRESENCE.

IT CAME ACROSS TO ME IN THE INTERVIEW.

STEPH: I THINK HE’S A REAL COP’S COP.

HE’S BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 1994.

HE REALLY HAS GROWN IN THE DEPARTMENT BUT IT IS IMPORTANT HE’S THE FIRST LATINO CHIEF BECAUSE HE HAS A CONNECTION TO PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN PROVIDENCE THAT PREVIOUS CHIEFS DID NOT HAVE.

MAYBE THEY BECAME CLOSE WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES BUT HE GREW UP IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN SOUTH PROVIDENCE AND IS ABLE TO CONNECT AND UNDERSTAND THAT COMMUNITY BETTER THAN FORMER CHIEFS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND YOU SEE THAT IN THE CLIP AND HIS CONCERN FOR THE FACT THAT YOUNG MEN OF COLOR ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN VIOLENCE.

>> THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THE INTERVIEW I SAW WAS WHERE pSTEPH TALKED TO THE CHIEF ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT CRISIS THE DEPARTMENT IS FACING.

ONLY 400 APPLICANTS TO THE POLICE ACADEMY WHEN IT USED TO BE THOUSANDS.

SO WHAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THE CHIEF DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER ABOUT HOW TO GET THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS UP AND ACKNOWLEDGED, LOOK, THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

THERE’S BEEN A NATIONAL DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE POLICE OFFICERS.

IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE POLICE BRUTALITY PROTESTS IN 2020.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN PROVIDENCE AND I GUESS POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF ALL MEANNESS OF VALLEYS THE STATE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

STEPH: AND LAST YEAR, THEY BUDGETED TO HAVE 50 NEW POLICE OFFICERS BUT THEY GOT SO FEW QUALIFIED APPLICANTS THAT THE ONLY UNIT UP WITH 35 IN THE -- THAT THEY ONLY ENDED UP WITH 35 IN THE END.

JIM: SOME GOING TO MASSACHUSETTS, ALTHOUGH NOT SUCH A GREAT IDEA GIVEN WHAT’S GOING ON THERE, BUT WHAT USED TO BE CONSIDERED A PREMIER JOB, NOT SO MANY PEOPLE WANT IT ANYMORE.

FUNG THAT’S JUST A -- DON: THAT’S JUST A NATIONAL PROBLEM I THINK.

I WAS FOCUSED ON HOW I FELT ABOUT THE CHIEF WATCHING THE INTERVIEW.

I DON’T THE GUY HAVE EVER BEEN INSPIRED BY A PROVIDENCE POLICE CHIEF BUT I FELT INSPIRED.

HE WAS PRACTICAL.

HE CAN RELATE TO THE COMMUNITY AS STEPH SAID.

HE WAS FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL POLICE SOLUTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THAT MADE ME FEEL SAFER, TO BE HONEST.

JIM: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OFF-CAMERA THAT YOU WERE ON BROAD STREET.

DON: I WAS ON BROAD STREET A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND, YEARS AGO, I LIVED OFF OF BROAD STREET.

AND I DIDN’T FEEL SAFE, I WOULD SAY, EVEN AS A BLACK MAN JUST WALKING THE STREETS AT NIGHT WALKING THE STREETS OF BROAD STREET, BUT NOW IT LOOKS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

I FEEL MUCH SAFER AND IT’S GREAT TO SEE THE REVITALIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY.

JIM: YOU DO NOT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE YOU WERE A REPUBLICAN?

WHAT OUSTED OUT TO YOU IN THE INTERVIEW?

STEPH: YOU KNOW, I THINK THE -- LIKE ADAM SAID, THE RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES, BECAUSE THE CHIEF SAYS THAT THEY ARE SHORTSTAFFED AND, WE LOOK AT THE CRIME STATISTICS THAT WE JUST SHOWED YOU, THEY ARE GOING UP.

IF THE DEPARTMENT IS SHORTSTAFFED AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RECRUIT ENOUGH OFFICERS TO CONTINUE THAT WORK TO GET GUNS OFF THE STREET AND PREVENT VIOLENT CRIME, THOSE NUMBERS COULD KEEP GOING UP.

THAT’S WHY I KEEP SUCH A CLOSE EYE ON THEM, BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE TRENDS BEFORE THEY BECOME A GIANT SPIKE.

JIM: IDEALLY 500?

STEPH: ROUGHLY.

I THINK IDEALLY 500.

HE WANTS 60 OFFICERS IN THIS YEAR’S ACADEMY.

THAT WOULD GET THEM TO ABOUT 480.

JIM: THE OTHER THING YOU DON’T HEAR ABOUT IS ALL THE RAMPAGING ATVERS.

YOU DON’T HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT BUT MAINLY BECAUSE THE WORD HAS GONE OUT THAT PROVIDENCE IS NOT OPEN FOR YOU TO RIDE.

DON: THE STREETS ARE QUIETER AND PROPERTY CRIME IS DOWN.

VIOLENT CRIME HAS BEEN UP A LITTLE BIT OF A PROPERTY CRIME IS DOWN.

SO THE STATISTICS KIND OF POINT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

AND EVEN THE UPTICK IN VIOLENT CRIME, YOU KNOW, IT FOLLOWS A LONG PERIOD OF DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

I THINK IF YOU COMPARE PROVIDENCE’S SITUATION IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIME DOWN TO WHAT IT WAS IN 2005 OR 1995, IT’S A VAST IMPROVEMENT.

JIM: BUT YEARS AGO, ON THE EAST SIDE, YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE WHILE YOU WERE THERE.

STEPH: PROVIDENCE IS DEFINITVELY SAFER THAN IT WAS DECADES AGO.

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

DON, WHAT DO YOU HAVE THIS WEEK?

DON: THIS IS AN OUTRAGE.

VIEWERS WHO MAY KNOW ME -- YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT I’M A REPUBLICAN BUT MY OUTRAGE IS DONALD TRUMP BEING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE AS A PARTY POTENTIALLY SELECTING A PERSON OF HIS CHARACTER AND I HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR TRUMP, NEVER WILL.

HE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO RUN.

I DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD BE BARRED FROM RUNNING UNLESS HE IS CONVICTED OF A CRIME BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS TO WHERE WE ARE POLITICALLY.

JIM: MUST BE TOUGH TO SEE WHERE YOUR PARTY IS GOING NATIONALLY.

DON: I HAVE BEEN A CARD-CARRYING MEMBER FOR 25 YEARS.

JIM: MAYBE THE LIBERTARIANS ARE BECKONING FOR YOU.

DON: IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A MODERATE PARTY.

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

JIM: YOU CAN TALK TO KEN BLOCK ABOUT THAT.

ADAM: I WOULD GIVE A SEMI KUDOS TO STEPHEN FEINBERG IN THE STATE’S MOTION PICTURE AND TV OFFICE BECAUSE WE ARE FILMING AT ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD MOVIE HERE.

IT STARTS JAMIE LEE CURTIS AND WOODY HARRELSON, WHO ARE ON SITE.

AND I HAD A GROUP OF STUDENTS LAST YEAR DO A REPORT ABOUT THE STATE’S MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT, WHICH IS THIS LONG-STANDING ISSUE, WHETHER OR NOT IT PAYS FOR ITSELF, AND I HAVE TO SAY THE POLICY QUESTION IS COMPLICATED AND I DON’T HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF IT, BUT CERTAINLY, THE MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION OFFICE OF THE STATE HAD A BIG PUBLIC RELATIONS COUP YESTERDAY, PARTICULARLY THOSE CLIPS OF JAMIE LEE CURTIS TELLING THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND -- OF CALIFORNIA SAYING, LOOK TO RHODE ISLAND.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

STEPH: THE ONLY THING I HAVE HAD SPACE TO GRANT ABOUT WAS THE EMAILS SITUATION.

I HOPE THEY WILL WAIVE THE FEES.

JIM: THERE’S ALSO A LOOPHOLE THAT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL CLOSE UP.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC ACCESS, PUBLIC RECORDS LAW, THAT YOU CAN GET EMAILS BETWEEN DEPARTMENT HEADS BUT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE EXEMPT.

STEPH: THEY ARE EXEMPT UNDER THE LAW.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT RELEASE THEIR EMAILS.

THEY ARE ALLOWED TO WITHHOLD THEM.

I HAVE REQUESTED EMAILS FROM GOVERNOR MCKEE REGARDING THE BRIDGE.

THEY CAN WITHHOLD THEM BUT I HOPE THEY DO NOT.

JIM: AND IT’S NOT DANMCKEE @GMAIL.COM.

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT RIPTA.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR HALF AN HOUR.

THE NEWS WAS THEY ARE GOING FORWARD WITH A $70 MILLION TRANSIT HUB.

THEY ARE NOT SURE WHERE THEY WILL PUT IT BUT THIS COMES FROM BOND MONEY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME BALANCING THEIR BUDGET.

THEY ARE IN A WORLD OF HURT.

STEPH: I SAID THIS IN ANOTHER PROGRAM.

JIM: YOU WERE ON ANOTHER PROGRAM?

STEPH: I’M SORRY.

RHODE ISLAND NEEDS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO RUN RIPTA LIKE A BUSINESS OR A PUBLIC SERVICE.

IF YOU ARE RUNNING IT LIKE A BUSINESS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT DEMAND AND CLOSING ROUTES IF PEOPLE ARE NOT USING THEM.

OR IS IT A PUBLIC SERVICE WHERE PEOPLE IN REMOTE PARTS OF THE STATE STILL DESERVE SERVICE AND YOU MAY RUN AT A DEFICIT TO DO THAT?

THE STATE NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER THEY WILL FUND RIPTA’S DEFICITS.

DON: THAT MAKES SENSE.

WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT IN THIS STATE, IF WE CAN MAKE A BAD OR STUPID DECISION, WE CAN MAKE THAT -- WE WILL MAKE THAT DECISION.

FOLLOWING RIPTA, SINCE I HAVE LIVED IN THE STATE FOR 29 YEARS, SOME OF THIS -- OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE MAKE NO SENSE.

YOU COULD RUN RIPTA AS A PUBLIC SERVICE AND FOCUS ON THAT BUT WHAT’S STRANGE TO ME IS THE INCOMPETENCE OF EVERY DECISION THEY MAKE.

ADAM: THERE’S A COUPLE OF THINGS I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT.

AND AS A RIPTA USER, I DO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS STATE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE $17 MILLION IS A CONTRACT TO COME UP WITH A GENERAL PLAN.

STEPH: THEY HAVE BEEN COMING UP WITH PLANS FOR 10 YEARS.

ADAM: EXACTLY.

I DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND -- I MEAN, I’M A POLICY EXPERT.

JIM: I THOUGHT IT WAS $400,000 TO GET THE STUDY DONE BUT THE $17 MILLION WOULD COVER A LOT OF THE COST OF RELOCATION, NO?

ADAM: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY WILL BE A LOT MORE.

JIM: WHERE WILL THAT COME FROM?

DON: WHAT’S THE POINT OF RELOCATING?

ADAM: RIGHT.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE.

I LIKE CHANGING BUSES IN THE PLAZA.

RIPTA IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE.

BUSES ARE LATE, THERE’S LONG WAIT TIMES.

I LIKE BEING ABLE TO HOP OVER TO THE COFFEE SHOP AND GET A CUP OF JOE AS I WAIT FOR BUSES.

I DON’T MIND THAT IT’S IN THAT AREA.

I KNOW THE DOWNTOWN HEAD HONCHOS DO NOT WANT IT TO BE THERE BUT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MOST RIPTA USERS, IT’S FINE.

I DON’T KNOW WHY THEY CAN’T BUILD THIS NEW TRANSIT HUB FACILITY IN KENNEDY PLAZA.

JIM: YOU ARE PART OF A SMALL GROUP OF RIDERS.

THEY SHOULD BE TALKING TO YOU.

FEWER AND FEWER.

THEY HAVE REBUILT THAT HUB I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES AND I WAS COVERING A TRIAL IN 2002 AND I WALKED BY A CONSTRUCTION GUY BECAUSE THEY WERE REDOING IT FOR THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME.

THAT’S ALL WE HAVE.

ADAM AND STEPH AND DON, THANK YOU.

IF YOU CANNOT CATCH US FRIDAY AT 7:00 OR SUNDAY AT NOON, WE ARCHIVE ALL OF OUR SHOWS.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEEK BUT WE WILL BE HERE TO COVER IT AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI.

I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF