JIM: THE U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION COMES TO RHODE ISLAND.

WE SIT DOWN WITH ONE OF THE SENATORS PUSHING FOR CHANGES TO THE STATE OPEN RECORDS LAW.

>> HI, FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED ANALYSIS TO POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I’M A PROUD SUPPORTER.

JIM: JOINING US, AMY RUSSO, ED FITZPATRICK AND SCOTT MACKAY.

HELLO AND WELCOME.

PETE BUTTIGIEG CALLED RHODE ISLAND’S TIMETABLE FOR REPLACING THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE AGGRESSIVE AFTER A TOUR WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE DOT DIRECTOR.

A GAGGLE OF POLITICIANS GETS FACE TIME ON THE NEWS.

WE ARE FELLOW EAST BAYERS.

NO TRUTH TO THE RUMOR WE STAYED AT A HOTEL LAST NIGHT.

I DIDN’T THINK NEWS CAME OUT OF THE VISIT BUT IT MAKES A STATEMENT.

>> IT WAS A PHOTO OP, LET’S BE HONEST.

WHAT BUTTIGIEG SAID, IF YOU TRANSLATE IT, THE TIMELINE IS ASPIRATIONAL.

OPTIMISTIC.

YOU CAN USE, DESCRIPTIVE TERMS.

THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE.

I DON’T THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON AS WELL AS WE SHOULD.

IT’S A NICE SHOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CARES, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT THE FACT IS -- [LAUGHTER] -- I DON’T THINK HE WILL MOVE THIS PROJECT ANY FASTER.

JIM: THEY NOW CALL IT THE DOOMED WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

I DON’T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

SEEMS THE TACK NOW WILL BE, BLAME IT ON PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAD AND WHO BUILT IT 60 YEARS AGO.

LET’S MOVE ON.

>> EVEN PETER SAID ESTIMATES OF COST AND TIMEFRAME CAN CHANGE WHEN YOU GET TO THE BUILD PHASE.

I INTERVIEWED THE HOUSE SPEAKER.

HE’S WORRIED ABOUT THE BUDGET.

IF IT’S $300 MILLION NOW, WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS IN RECENT YEARS, THOSE NUMBERS COULD BE ASPIRATIONAL.

BUTTIGIEG CALLED IT AGGRESSIVE.

WE WILL SEE IF IT HAPPENS.

JIM: SOME PEOPLE CAN WORK AROUND IT BUT EAST PROVIDENCE, IT’S A HUGE ISSUE.

AMY: THERE’S A LOT OF BACKUP TRAFFIC.

WHEN BUTTIGIEG WAS HERE, HIS MESSAGING WAS POSITIVE.

HE’S BLAMING DESIGNERS FROM THE 1960’S.

RHODE ISLANDERS WANT TO KNOW WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE AND IN THE MEANTIME PROVIDENCE STREETS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY HEAVY TRUCKS, INTERSTATE TRAFFIC BEING DIVERTED THROUGH THE CITY BY LOCAL ROADS AND THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO PUT CAPS ON THE WEIGHTS OF THOSE TRUCKS SO SOME OF THE DAMAGE STOPPED.

IT’S A TWO-YEAR TIMELINE.

ASPIRATIONAL LONG TIME, COULD BE A LOT OF DAMAGE.

JIM: IS THAT GAINING POPULARITY AMONG CITY LEADERS?

THOSE ARE LOCAL ROADS.

ARE THERE STATE ROADS INVOLVED?

AMY: THESE ARE THREE LOCAL THOROUGHFARES, ANGEL STREET, WATERMAN AND GONENO.

THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP THESE TRUCKS OFF THE STREET.

THIS ORDINANCE WAS FAST TRACKED.

NOW IT’S IN COMMITTEE.

NEEDS A SECOND PASSAGE TO BE OFFICIAL.

USUALLY IT WILL GO TO COMMITTEE FIRST.

THIS MEANS, THERE IS SOME MOMENTUM.

JIM: THE FIRST MISTAKE WAS THE SPEED BUMPS OVER THE HENDERSON BRIDGE.

>> YOUR HEART GOES OUT TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY EAST PROVIDENCE.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN BROADWAY, O MY LORD, WHO DIED?

THERE MUST BE A HUGE WAKE TONIGHT.

I KEEP DRIVING AND THERE ARE TWO LANES, ONE LIGHT AND OFFICERS OUT THERE DIRECTING.

IT’S LIKE A CRAPSHOOT.

YOU DON’T KNOW.

CERTAIN TIME OF DAY, YOU GET LUCKY.

OTHERWISE IF YOU MISS IT IN THE MORNING OR RUSH-HOUR, YOU CAN GET STUCK.

FENDER BENDER?

FORGET IT.

>> YOU RAISE THE POINT, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME.

THE GOVERNOR USED THE PHRASE "THE DAY OF RECKONING IS COMING."

WENDY SCHILLING SAID THERE IS DANGER IN THAT BECAUSE THE DAY OF RECKONING COULD BE FOR HIM.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL FIND WHEN THEY START LOOKING.

JIM: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH WENDY -- BEFORE HE SAID THAT, HE MUST HAVE HAD A PLAN.

MAYBE BUTTIGIEG WAS PREVIEWING THAT?

WE WILL BLAME DEAD PEOPLE.

PENSIONS IN FLORIDA.

I WONDER IF THAT FLIES WITH THE PUBLIC, THE DAY OF RECKONING, AND NONE OF THE CURRENT PEOPLE AT DOT ARE PART OF THAT?

>> HE STOOD BEHIND PETER.

HE WAS UPSET WHEN IT FIRST CAME UP WITH BRIAN CRANDALL.

THE LAST BRIEFING, IT WAS ASKED.

MY COLLEAGUE ASKED PETER, WHY SHOULD WE HAVE FAITH IN YOU?

YOU’VE BEEN THE DIRECTOR FOR X NUMBER OF YEARS AND HE TOUTED HIS RECORD SAYING WE FIXED A LOT OF BRIDGES.

INTERESTING.

JIM: WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEARD THAT?

AMY: IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

NOBODY’S BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE NOW.

WE DON’T SEE PEOPLE RESIGNING OR BEING FIRED.

WHEN IS THE DAY OF RECKONING?

>> I WONDER IF HE IS LOOKING AT THE TEMPLATE FROM 38 STUDIOS AND HIRING AN OUTSIDE STAR LAW FIRM AND SEEING IF HE CAN GO AFTER SOME CONTRACTORS?

SEE IF THEY CAN FIND SOME DEEP POCKETS AND CLAWBACKS OF MONEY?

JIM: THIS IS DIFFERENT.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SIT IN TRAFFIC WHO DON’T CARE IF THEY GET $50 MILLION BACK.

>> THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

HERE’S WHAT THEY WILL BE UPSET ABOUT -- THEY CANNOT GET TO WORK ON TIME.

JIM: WE MAKE THAT COMMUTE.

HOW HAS IT BEEN?

>> IT’S A CRAPSHOOT.

SOME DAYS IT WORKS WELL.

SOME DAYS THE DOCTOR WILL SAY, GET BEHIND A FENDER BENDER -- THE OTHER MORNING THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WITH THREE CARS -- LOOK OUT.

YOU ARE STUCK.

YOU’VE SEEN IT.

IN THE EAST BAY, WE SHOULD CHANGE THE LICENSE PLATES TO THE STATE WHERE YOU CANNOT CROSS BRIDGES.

IT’S CRAZY.

>> WE ASKED ROADMAP READERS TO GIVE US AN IDEA FOR A BRIDGE SEEMED PLAYLIST.

SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS -- BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER.

TROUBLE BRIDGE OVER WATER.

[LAUGHTER] BREAKING BALL.

HIGHWAY TO HELL.

AMANDA MILK OF ITS -- MELKOWITZ.

JIM: THIS WILL CONTINUE.

BRAD SMILEY GOT A CHILLY RECEPTION FROM LAWMAKERS TRYING TO PUT IN NOISE CAMERAS.

WHY DOES HE WANT THIS?

AMY: IN THE MAYOR’S RECENTLY UNVEILED LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE, HE WANTED PERMISSION FROM THE STATEHOUSE LAWMAKERS TO USE THESE NOISE CAMERAS.

HE SAYS POLICE DON’T HAVE RESOURCES TO STOP DRIVERS WHO ARE PLAYING MUSIC LOUDLY OR MOTORCYCLISTS WITH STRAIGHT PIPES.

THESE CAMERAS WILL WORK LIKE A LICENSE PLATE READER, SNAP A PHOTO OF THE PLATE WHEN THEY ARE SET OFF BY LOUD NOISE AND ISSUE CITATIONS.

JIM: YOU GET IT IN THE MAIL WEEKS LATER?

AMY: RIGHT.

LAWMAKERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

THIS WENT BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY RECENTLY.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS OVER, IS EVERYONE IN THE STATE NOW GOING TO WANT TO PUT IN CAMERAS?

THIS POLICING GOING TO BE AUTOMATED?

WHAT WILL THE TAXPAYERS PAY?

JIM: IT’S NOT JUST FOR PROVIDENCE.

AMY: IT’S FOR EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO.

IT DOESN’T COMPEL CITIES TO DO IT BUT THEY CAN IF THIS PASSES.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THIS PROVIDENCE RESIDENT?

>> IT’S A PROBLEM.

ON THE PODCAST THE RHODE ISLAND REPORT WE HAD WALKER ON FROM THE COMMUNITY NOISE PROJECT AND SHE SAID PROVIDENCE IS LOUDER THAN BOSTON.

[LAUGHTER] SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW NOISE IS A PROXY FOR POWER.

RICHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE QUIETER.

THE MAYOR SAYS HE WILL PUT CAMERAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT WE KNOW THE RICHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE QUIETER.

IS ENFORCEMENT GOING TO COME DOWN ON LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES?

THERE’S LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

>> BIG BROTHER HERE WE GO AGAIN.

WE KEEP ERODING ANY PRIVAC IN SOCIETY.

THIS IS ANOTHER CHIP AT THAT.

THE ACLU RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

AMY: THEY DID.

THEY TESTIFIED AGAINST THE BILL.

NO SURPRISE, THEY DON’T SUPPORT CAMERAS, PRETTY MUCH ANY KIND, BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED HOW THESE WILL WORK.

THEY WANT MORE DETAIL.

WE HAVEN’T GOTTEN A LOT ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS.

WHO THE VENDOR WILL BE?

WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE?

JIM: THE MAYOR INDICATED THAT, LET’S CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.

HE MAY SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

DO YOU GET THE FEELING, DID HE EXPECT THAT?

AMY: I DON’T KNOW.

HE’S BEEN FOCUSED ON QUALITY OF LIFE.

TO HIM -- JIM: PICKING UP THE GARBAGE?

AMY: I’M NOT SURE.

>> HE’S BECOME THE NEW RUDY GIULIANI.

JIM: LET’S HOPE HE DOESN’T TURN INTO THE RUDY OF THE PRESENT.

THE CAMERAS IN GENERAL, THEIR ARGUMENT ALWAYS RINGS HOLLOW.

THIS IS FOR SAFETY.

THE SPEED CAMERAS.

I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN NABBED SOMEWHERE IN PROVIDENCE GOING BY A SCHOOL.

YOU’RE NOT THINKING AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN -- SO IF THEY ARE GETTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEY SAY IT IS FOR SAFETY.

THAT IS TROUBLESOME TO TAXPAYERS.

>> I’M NOT SURE THE SOURCE OF ALL THE NOISE COMPLAINTS IS NECESSARILY A CAR.

IT MIGHT BE NEIGHBORS CRANKING THE TUNES.

COULD BE SPRINGSTEEN.

IT IS JUST PART OF THE PROBLEM.

JIM: HAVE A TALKED ABOUT EXPANSION?

THEY WERE TALKING SPEED CAMERAS AND RED LIGHT CAMERAS.

IS PROVIDENCE WANTING TO EXPAND?

THEY ADDED ON A BUNCH WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AMY: SMILEY IS TRYING TO GET APPROVAL TO USE LOCK THE BOX CAMERAS, FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE GRIDLOCK IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN YOU GO THROUGH AND THE LIGHTS ARE ALREADY READ AND THEN YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, NOW NO ONE CAN COME THIS WAY.

SO THAT’S ANOTHER CAMERA.

JIM: THAT IS IN THE RHODE ISLAND DRIVING CONSTITUTION.

DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX.

I DON’T KNOW IF IT WAS LAW -- I DIDN’T KNOW THE TERM -- BOX, WHAT IS THAT?

THAT’S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU DO THE RHODE ISLAND SLIDE.

>> THE RED LIGHT IS A CHALLENGE, THE YELLOW LIGHT IS A SUGGESTION.

JIM: AMONG LEGISLATION PROPOSED THIS YEAR, CHANGES TO THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.

THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO EVERYONE ON THIS PANEL.

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ARE WATCHING AND WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR GOVERNMENT.

SENATOR PALMA, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHANGES MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

>> CHANGING THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT WILL BE A HEAVY LIFT.

I’M NOT STOPPING UNTIL WE GET IT DONE.

RHODE ISLANDERS WANT IT.

THE ONLY WAY GOVERNMENT GETS BETTER.

JIM: NOT EVERYONE WANTS IT.

WHEN YOU INTRODUCED THIS LAST YEAR, YOU GOT AN INSTANT RESPONSE.

THE POLICE CHIEFS DIDN’T LIKE IT.

THE GOVERNOR DIDN’T LIKE IT.

>> TOOK ALL THE COMMENTS LAST YEAR, FROM THE SAME AGENCIES, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

CHANGES WERE MADE.

IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE BILL.

JIM: YOU’RE STILL GETTING PUSHBACK.

>> CORRECT.

PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO CHANGE.

JIM: WHAT WAS YOUR ORIGINAL INTEREST?

>> IT STEMMED FROM THE WORK CHAIRING RULES AND ETHICS.

AS PART OF THAT TWO-YEAR STINT, I INTERACTED WITH THE LAW MANY TIMES, EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD SOMETHING TO THE AG’S OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS DENIED A COUPLE TIMES.

THE VERY NATURE OF ACCESSING FACTS AND DATA FROM AGENCIES, IT SHOULDN’T BE THIS HARD.

WE HAVE TO RESHAPE THE NARRATIVE, HOW WE DO THINGS.

THE GOAL IS TO GET INFO OUT THERE AND MAKE IT AVAILABE FROM THE GET-GO.

JIM: WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WILL IT TAKE SPACE ON SERVERS SOMEWHERE?

YES.

LET’S BE PROACTIVE WITH THE DOCUMENTS SOMEONE MIGHT WANT.

WE WANT CITIZENS TO BE ENGAGED IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ITEM THEY WILL LOOK AT, MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU CAN MAKE IT ELECTRONICALLY.

IT’S ALREADY THERE.

I’M REMINDED OF THE SUPREME COURT.

JIM: THE DAY I VISITED SENATOR PALMA, HE HAD GOTTEN A STACK, THIS HAPPENEDIN THE HOUSE TOO, A STACK FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THIS THICK SAYING WHY THEY DON’T WANT IT.

>> NOT A SURPRISE.

THIS WAS INTRODUCED LAST YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, THE STATE POLICE OPPOSED IT, A LOT OF STATE AGENCIES.

THEY FIGHT THIS TOOTH AND NAIL.

THERE ARE 47 CHANGES PROPOSED IN THIS LEGISLATION.

THIS AREA OF THE LAW HASN’T BEEN UPDATED IN A DECADE.

WE HAVE NEW TECH LIKE BODY CAMERAS.

IT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING.

CAMERAS, EMAILS.

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THEY FIGHT IT.

EXAMPLE, ONE SECTION WOULD SAY IF YOU ARE REQUESTING A DOCUMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AS THE MEDIA DOES ALL THE TIME, THEN YOU WAIVE THE FEE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, THE DOT HAS BEEN CHARGING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING PEOPLE’S LIVES.

THEY ARE CHARGING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SOME CASES TO FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON.

IF YOU WAIVE IT, THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AS WE CAN’T DETERMINE IF IT’S IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

THAT’S FOR A COURT.

EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, EVERY DAY FEDERAL AGENCIES DECIDE IF THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

JIM: EVERY DAY.

THIS IS A TOOL OF OUR TRADE.

AMY: EXACTLY.

YOU SEEM DOCUMENTS BEING REQUESTED LATELY FROM MEDIA OUTLETS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE BEEN CHARGED VARYING AMOUNTS.

THE JOURNAL HAD A HIGHER BILL THAN A TV OUTLET NOT LONG AGO.

THAT’S QUESTIONABLE.

FOR AVERAGE CITIZENS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY THAN JOURNALISTS TO BE HIT WITH THESE.

IT’S A DETERRENT.

IT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT.

IT MAKES THEM THROW UP THEIR HANDS, OK I WON’T BOTHER BECAUSE I WILL BE CHARGED $1000, MAYBE MORE.

>> I’M SEEING THIS NATIONALLY.

LOOK AT POLITICIANS, THEY WANT MORE PRIVACY.

THEY DON’T WANT SUNSHINE, AS THE JUSTICE SAID.

LOOK AT CANCÚN CRUISE, THE FAMOUS SENATOR FROM TEXAS, WHO NOW WANTS AIRPORTS TO SHIELD PUBLIC OFFICIALS SO YOU CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS OF THEM AND HAVE SEPARATE WAYS TO GET ON THE PLANE, THAT SHIELDS THEM FROM THE PUBLIC.

GOVERNOR HEALY IN MASSACHUSETTS WENT AWAY FOR FOUR DAYS, WON’T SAY WHERE HE WENT.

LUCKILY THERE WASN’T A MARATHON BOMBING GOING ON.

WON’T SAY WHO SHE WAS WITH, WHERE SHE WENT.

I ASSUME HER STATE POLICE ESCORT WENT WITH HER, THE PEOPLE WHO GUARD HER.

JIM: TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> LOOK AT FLORIDA, WHICH USED TO HAVE GOOD SUNSHINE LAWS, UNTIL RON DESANTIS GOT IN AND DECIDED HE WANTED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND THEY PASSED LAWS THAT SHIELD ALL HIS TRAVEL OUT-OF-STATE, HOW MUCH MONEY HE WAS SPENDING ON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, RUNNING AROUND THE COUNTRY, USING STATE FUNDS, USING STATE RESOURCES.

THIS IS A PROBLEM.

IT SEEMS LIKE POLITICAL PEOPLE, AS ED WAS SAYING, THEY TRIED TO PUT UP BARRIERS.

JIM: YOU ARE ON THE NEW ENGLAND FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION.

YOU TAKE A LARGER VIEW.

IN MY 4 DECADES, YOU BEEN DOING IT LONGER SCOTTY, BUT THERE ARE FEWER REPORTERS, GOVERNMENTS ATTITUDE, MY OPINION IS, THE ONUS WILL BE ON YOU.

WE WILL DENY IT.

IF YOU WANT TO APPEAL, YOU HAVE TO SPEND RESOURCES.

NO IS THE DEFAULT.

>> YES.

IT IS THE KNEE-JERK REACTION.

THAT IS THE DEFAULT MODE FOR FAR TOO MANY AGENCIES.

WITH MEDIA OUTLETS CUTTING BACK, THEY ARE SAYING YOU HAVE TO GO TO COURT IF YOU WANT THAT FEE WAIVER.

HOW MANY NEWS OUTLETS NOW HAVE ATTORNEYS, THEY WILL PAY BIG BUCKS, LEGAL FEES TO GET RECORDS?

THE POINT I WOULD MAKE FOR THE PUBLIC, SAYING, OH, THAT IS WHAT JOURNALISTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, NO, IT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC IS CONCERNED ABOUT.

THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

THE PHILADELPHIA TRIP.

WE JUST HAD A PANEL DISCUSSION LAST WEEK.

THE EXAMPLES, ELI SHERMAN FROM PRI TALKED ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS THAT SHOWED THE PHILADELPHIA VEGAN CHEESE TRIP BY RHODE ISLAND OFFICIALS THAT WAS SO EMBARRASSING.

COLLEEN CRONIN PUT IN A RECORDS REQUEST FOR CRASH DATA AND WAS TOLD NO.

THIS IS STUFF THAT MATTERS.

JIM: YOU REMEMBER -- SCOTT: YOU REMEMBER THERE USED TO BE FIVE REPORTERS FOR EVERYONE FLAK.

THE BALANCE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

JIM: THE JOURNAL HAD JOE CAVANAUGH FOR YEARS.

IT WAS 95% OF HIS WORK WAS PUBLIC ACCESS.

THEY KNEW, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES KNEW IF YOU TURNED THEM DOWN WITHOUT A GOOD REASON, YOU WOULD BE IN COURT OR AT THE AG’S OFFICE.

ED: NOW YOU HEAR PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAYING I DON’T WANT TO BE SUED.

THEY’RE NOT AS CONCERNED -- JIM: WHAT ABOUT CRASH DATA?

AMY: THAT WAS OF GREAT INTEREST.

ONE PIECE IS THIS BILL WOULD COMPEL THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO RELEASE CRASH DATA.

FOR YEARS, IT HAS BEEN REFUSING BASICALLY BECAUSE IT IS AFRAID OF BEING SUED, PERHAPS FOR NOT MAKING CERTAIN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

JIM: HOW ABOUT DO YOUR JOB SO YOU WON’T GET SUED?

AMY: THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION.

[LAUGHTER] 47 CHANGES.

JIM: DID THEY BITE OFF MORE THAN THEY COULD CHEW?

THE DRUNK DRIVING LAW WENT FROM A CIVIL PENALTY TO .12 .08 OVER MANY SESSIONS, OR DID THEY THINK, WE WILL ONLY DO THIS ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS SO WE MIGHT AS WELL GET DONE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO?

47 MADE IT THROUGH.

I THINK THE LEGISLATORS AND SENATOR PALMA ARE GOING TO SEE WHERE THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF OPPOSITION ARE.

WE WILL SEE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS.

ACCESS TO EMAILS, TO 911 CALLS.

INCREASING, MAKING IT, GETTING RID OF FEES THAT SERVE AS A BARRIER.

IT’S IMPORTANT PIECE.

JIM: WHAT WOULD HELP YOU THE MOST?

AMY: MAN.

AS A LOCAL REPORTER, CRASH DATA AND BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.

JIM: 10 YEARS AGO WE WEREN’T EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT.

TIME MARCHES ON.

OUTRAGES AND OR KUDOS.

SCOTT: IT IS MARCH MADNESS.

MY OUTRAGE IS COLLEGE SPORTS.

IT’S CORRUPT.

THE TRANSFER PORTAL IS OUT BEFORE THE GAMES ARE OVER.

YOU WILL HAVE KIDS, COACH HURLEY FROM UCONN, SAID THEY WILL END UP AS MERCENARIES, PLAYING AT THREE DIFFERENT COLLEGES, PLAYING BALL.

DARTMOUTH NOW, THE TEAM LOST $900,000 LAST YEAR.

THEY WANT TO GO UNION.

I’M PROUNION.

IT’S GREAT BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE KID FLUNKS AND THEY ARE OFF THE TEAM?

DO YOU FILE AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AGAINST THE PROFESSOR?

[LAUGHTER] AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS GET TO BE FARCE?

JIM: I WOULD THINK WITH THE TRANSFER PORTAL, THEY LOOSENED THE RULES.

YOU USED TO HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR.

THAT WAS A DISINCENTIVE.

NOW THE UNTOLD STORY IS SO MANY KIDS PUT THEIR NAME IN THE PORTAL, THEY HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THEN NO ONE CLAIMS THEM.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

SCOTT: THE WHOLE THING IS A MESS.

HOPEFULLY FORMER GOVERNOR BAKER, NOW THE HEAD OF THE NCAA WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

FOR YEARS, THE NCAA WAS ARROGANT AND OVERREGULATED.

KIDS COULDN’T EVEN GET ENOUGH MONEY TO GO TO MCDONALD’S.

OR DO THEIR LAUNDRY.

IT WAS BAD.

NOW WE ARE GOING THE OTHER WAY.

YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THIS NIL MONEY, SCHOOLS ARE RECRUITING, HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED -- JIM: BRIBERY.

SCOTT: PRETTY SOON WE WILL END UP, WHY EVEN TELL THEM TO GO TO CLASS?

JIM: WHEN IS SYRACUSE PLAYING THIS WEEK?

[LAUGHTER] IT’S PRETTY HARD.

NORTH CAROLINA MISSED IT LAST YEAR.

ED: STICKING WITH THE THEME, I’M OUTRAGED THE COLLEGE FRIARS AREN’T IN THE TOURNAMENT.

ANYONE WHO WATCHED THE TEAM THIS YEAR, THEY BEAT CREIGHTON IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT.

IT’S AN OUTRAGE.

SYRACUSE WILL BEAT NORTH CAROLINA NEXT YEAR.

SCOTT: THE CAP AMOUNTS ARE IN.

JIM: THIS WILL TURN IN TO A SPORTS SHOW.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO EXPAND THE TOURNAMENT, JUST LIKE THEY WANT TO PACK THE SUPREME COURT.

PROVIDENCE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN.

AMY: I WILL BREAK FROM THE TOPIC.

KUDOS TO THE ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS IN RHODE ISLAND/NEW ENGLAND.

TODAY IS MY DOGS GOT NEW DAY.

SOME OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH BUDDY.

JIM: BUDDY!

AMY: SHOUT OUT TO BUDDY.

JIM: LET’S STAY WITH YOU.

COUPLE MINUTES.

PVD FEST IS BACK.

MAYBE THE MAYOR LEARNED A LESSON LAST YEAR?

AMY: THEY MOVED IT BACK DOWNTOWN TO KENNEDY PLAZA.

IT WAS LAST YEAR ALONGSIDE THE PROVIDENCE RIVER, THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.

PEOPLE WEREN’T HAPPY.

BLOCK PARTIES WILL BE ALLOWED AGAIN.

A LITTLE BIT OF A ROLLBACK ON THE NO DRINKING RULE.

YOU STILL CAN’T HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER BUT THEY WILL HAVE COURT ON DOLPH ZONES WHERE YOU CAN DRINK.

ONE KEY CHANGE THIS YEAR, TWO DAYS INSTEAD OF THREE.

THE THIRD DATE WILL BE A RAIN DATE.

JIM: WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL THINKING MOVING IT?

AMY: I’M NOT SURE.

THE MAYOR WANTED TO TAKE THE FOCUS OFF OF PARTYING AND MORE ON THE ARTS AND MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY SO MAYBE THAT IS PART OF IT.

HONESTLY I AM NOT SURE.

SCOTT: IT WILL BE FUN TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE JUST COMING BACK TO COLLEGE NOW.

JIM: BUT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND THE FALL?

BECAUSE THERE IS MORE ENERGY?

AMY: I WOULD ASSUME SO.

SCOTT: THE KIDS WILL BE READY TO PARTY.

LOOK OUT.

JIM: THAT WILL BUMP UP AGAINST THE OPEN CONTAINER.

ED: THEY WILL HAVE THE NOISE CAMERAS OUT.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ED: I THOUGHT PVD IN ITS PRIOR ITERATION WAS GREAT.

PEOPLE FROM EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD CAME TOGETHER DOWNTOWN.

SO MUCH FUN.

A COLLECTED MIX OF ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES.

I WOULDN’T MESS WITH SUCCESS.

JIM: THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SCOTT, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AMY, ED.

ALL OF US ARE ALUMNI OF THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

A LITTLE ALUMNI SHOW.

ALL OF OUR SHOWS ARE ARCHIVED ON PBS.ORG.

WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ ANNOUNCER: A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGH