David Segal

Latest Articles

In 2012, election year intrigue awaits

Punditry Dept.
The new year is, of course, an election year. And while the presidential race will probably be less-than-dramatic in Rhode Island, there will be plenty of other intriguing fare for the political junkie.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | December 28, 2011

Segal weighs another race

Thinking It Over
David Segal hasn't decided whether he'll run for Congress. Far from it. But it is mulling season. And he is mulling.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | June 01, 2011

The stunning demise of gay marriage

Two questions for advocates: What happened? What next?
This was supposed to be the year.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 04, 2011

Flying blind: A primary-season post-mortem

With little public polling on the most hotly contested races in memory, Rhode Island’s pundit class was in the dark as the primary approached
With little public polling on the most hotly contested races in memory, Rhode Island’s pundit class was in the dark as the primary approached. But could the presence of a high-profile gay candidate make opinion surveys suspect anyway?
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | September 15, 2010

The most wonderful (not) time of year: P+J's endorsements

Plus, pushing for a free press at CCRI; remembering Nathan
Yes, it's election time and, sad to say, all those ridiculous television ads that are designed to capture the "moron vote" (by far, the largest sector of the voting public) are in heavy rotation.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | September 08, 2010

Could Cicilline be in for a surprise on Tuesday?

Primary wisdom
With the Democratic primary for Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District seat in the home stretch, most observers say Providence Mayor David Cicilline is the man to beat. And there is much to recommend the view.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | September 10, 2010

David Cicilline for Congress

Plus, Taveras for mayor of Providence, and Fernandez for attorney general
All elections are important, of course. But Rhode Island voters have a rare opportunity this fall to remake the state’s political hierarchy in sweeping fashion.
By PROVIDENCE PHOENIX STAFF | September 08, 2010

Hand puppets and Hope: Grading the candidates' ads

Air War
Primary season is upon us. And the four Democrats vying to succeed retiring 1st District Congressman Patrick Kennedy are engaged in a particularly lively air war on television and the Interzone.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | September 01, 2010

An angry electorate? Eh, whatever

Dud Dept.
Whither the rage? Rhode Island's Great Recession — greater, even, than the national model — was supposed to conjure a once-in-a-generation anti-incumbent fever. But so far, it's looking more like a modest headache.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | August 18, 2010

Can the Netroots triumph in Rhode island?

On the Hustings
Stories of State Representative David Segal’s nascent, underdog run for Congress invariably make a nod to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. And rightly so.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | May 19, 2010

Smith Hill weighs a ban on the under-21 crowd

The Fun Police
Seasoned partiers will recall that about a decade ago our august legislature considered barring anyone under age 21 from Rhode Island night clubs in a bid to curb underage drinking.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | March 31, 2010

Easy Ed strikes again

More propaganda from Achorn. Plus, legislative musings and more.
It’s always easy for Ed. That’s “Easy Ed” Achorn, the Other Paper’s deputy editorial pages editor who is the equivalent of a right-wing P&J.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | November 11, 2009

Grappling with Going Green

The waste-to-energy incinerator debate
Green energy," for most, is solar panels and wind turbines.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | June 10, 2009

Creedence-meets-Waylon

Jay Berndt resurrects the Revival Preachers
No, there will not be country-fried rockabilly renditions of Kilgore Smudge tunes at the Blackstone when ex-Kilgore frontman Jay Berndt resurrects the Revival Preachers (myspace.com/jayberndt) in what will be only their second show since 2005 (the boys reconvened for a wedding party in March).
By CHRIS CONTI | June 02, 2009

Advocates renew challenge to punitive probation practices

Violations
At the conclusion of its 2008 session, the General Assembly passed a bill that would have reformed state criminal justice procedure for probationers charged with new crimes.
By ARIEL WERNER | December 03, 2008

The alt-candidates

On the Rhode Island ballot: a revolutionary, conservatives — and Ralph Nader, of course
A revolutionary, Ralph Nader, a Baptist minister, and two former congressmen from Georgia are all running for president in Rhode Island.
By STEVEN STYCOS | October 29, 2008

Avant-oompah!

Mixing old and new, Providence’s What Cheer? Brigade takes a stand against pre-fabricated culture
Unexpected and improbable spontaneity is a trademark for What Cheer?, one of a number of groups that blend punk rock ethos with the mobility of marching bands
By IAN DONNIS | October 09, 2008

Voter apathy remains a primary staple

Talking Politics
The big story from Tuesday’s primary election, understandably enough, was the seeming upset by Michael J. Pinga of state Senator Stephen D. Alves.
By IAN DONNIS | September 11, 2008

Segal and Fierro lead the way for the General Assembly

Endorsements
As Rhode Islanders go to the polls for a primary election next Tuesday, September 9, there are some key votes to be made for progressive legislators.
By PHOENIX STAFF | September 04, 2008

Ten-5 plan for Providence City Council sparks sharp debate

Ten-5 plan for Providence City Council sparks sharp debate
Critics react to the plan to reformulate the Providence City Council.
By IAN DONNIS | May 21, 2008

Activist leads criminal-justice reform festival

Justice or just us?
When Bruce Reilly was released from the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in 2005 he had serious plans for how he intended to make up for lost time.
By ARIEL WERNER | May 08, 2008

Media rebels in the Internet age

The debate-defining posts of Rhode Island activists wield influence beyond their readership
Bloggers have “used a new and powerful medium and ‘crashed the gates’ to ensure that information — the most important ingredient in a democracy — would be available to anyone who wanted to write, read, or debate.”
By IAN DONNIS | May 01, 2008

Smith Hill mulls Senate succession; minstrel show heats up ICE

Not for nothing
The mantra from US Senator Jack Reed, who’s up for reelection this year, is that he’s not about to take a Cabinet position in a Democratic administration.
By IAN DONNIS | April 16, 2008

A win-wind situation

Renewable energy’s promise is a bright spot amid the state’s deficit gloom
It’s a pretty rare day when lobbyists, environmentalists, and labor officials are all happy about supporting the same legislation.
By IAN DONNIS | March 26, 2008

Obama backers rap Clinton contributions from Textron

Talking politics
Textron’s work for the defense industry has a controversial past.
By IAN DONNIS | February 20, 2008

FairVote RI targets teen pre-registration

Youth vote
With the General Assembly’s 2008 session underway, FairVote Rhode Island has resumed the fight for the main issue on its agenda: advance voter registration for 16- and 17-year-olds.
By JESSICA KERRY | January 25, 2008

Alternative Politics

Curry carries the VP banner for the Greens
The Green Party’s 2008 vice presidential candidate is an articulate juggernaut of personality: Sedinam Kinamo Christin Moyowasifza-Curry.
By IAN DONNIS | November 08, 2007

The hippest guy in state government

State Rep David Segal brings some youthful cool to the general assembly
The idiosyncratic crowd indicated just how different this event was from your standard legislative money-maker.
By IAN DONNIS | September 26, 2007

Providence endorsements

Whitehouse for US Senate; Fogarty for governor; Kennedy and Langevin for Congress; lynch for attorney general; “yes” for the casino
The Providence Phoenix enthusiastically endorses Sheldon Whitehouse.
By PROVIDENCE PHOENIX STAFF | November 01, 2006

Rebels in the general assembly

Can progressives change the debate on the issues that matter?
To the displeasure of progressives around Rhode Island, the Democrat-controlled General Assembly this year passed mammoth tax cuts for the wealthiest of Rhode Islanders — the same kind of tax cuts for which national Democrats have hammered President George W. Bush.
By MATTHEW JERZYK | October 18, 2006