• When forced to choose, 69% of respondents believe building more homes is more important than preserving "neighborhood character." 🏗️
• There is overwhelming support for solutions, ranging from 90% approval for building conversions to broad majority support for parking reforms. 🚗 (4/5)
Poll Toplines: Rhode Islanders Demand Action 📈
• 91% of residents agree that housing is a significant problem across Rhode Island. 🚨
• 61% strongly agree that the state legislature must take decisive action on housing. ⚖ (3/5)
Today, @neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social held a press conference at East Providence City Hall releasing the results of their housing poll.
We thank @bobdasilva.bsky.social, State Rep. June Speakman, & State Sen. @meghankallman.bsky.social for being there for the release of this important poll. (1/5)
It was fun exploring this walkable town. Grabbed a great meal at Brunswick Diner, visited the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, and explored local parks. (2/2)
Took a day trip to Brunswick, Maine yesterday via Amtrak's Downeaster from North Station in Boston.
Enjoyed exploring the town, including Bowdoin's art museum, along with local parks. Pictures below 👇 (1/2)
An Instax Mini photo of an Amtrak P42DC locomotive (number 119) parked on gravel tracks. The silver and blue train stands out against a brilliant, clear blue sky. The image has the classic soft focus and white border of instant film.
A vertical Instax Mini photo of a tall, rusted metal suspension bridge tower. A lone cyclist is riding across the wooden path toward the camera. The background is filled with the muted tones of bare trees and a pale, overcast sky.
An Instax Mini photo taken from behind a person with dark curly hair, wearing a plaid shirt and a black backpack. They are walking down a paved path in a park or campus setting. Long shadows from leafless trees stretch across the ground, and a stone monument stands to the right.
A horizontal Instax Mini photo showing a black metal truss bridge spanning a wide, still river. The landscape is quiet and wintry, with leafless trees lining the banks and a soft, hazy sky reflecting off the water.
Yesterday, I took a trip with my wife on Amtrak's Downeaster to the end of the line in Brunswick, Maine.
We explored the walkable downtown, visited the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, & crossed the Swinging Bridge.
#lomoinstantsquare #lomography #instax #amtrak #instaxmini #photography
An illustrated event poster for "Fam Jam: Loop de Looff," a community cycling event. The background features a whimsical, hand-drawn style with a large seagull perched atop a turquoise gazebo roof with stained-glass windows. In the background, three bicycles ride up a golden, looped track against a blue sky with fluffy white clouds and a red-and-white striped bridge or canopy. The text is stylized in various playful fonts and includes: Title: "FAM JAM" in large, yellow-outlined letters at the top, and "Loop de Looff" in blue cursive to the left. Date and Time: "Saturday May 2nd" in orange and "Meet Up at 1:00" in purple. Location: "RIVERSIDE SQUARE, EAST PROVIDENCE" in orange. The bottom of the poster features a row of logos for participating organizations: WRWC (Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council) with a "25 Years" badge. PB&J (a logo featuring a bicycle and a sandwich). EPIC (East Providence in Community). Providence Streets Coalition. Rhode Island Department of Health.
The ever growing party on wheels, @pvdstreets.bsky.social’s Fam Jam, makes its way to Riverside for the first ever East Providence Fam Jam…LOOP DE LOOFF! 🚲🎠🩵
Join us on Saturday, May 2nd at 1pm in Riverside Square.
🎨Artwork by Riverside’s own Talia Clark. 1/6
Thursday, April 2nd, the Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government will hear two of our bills: Technical Fixes (S2907) and Small-lot Size Reform (S2265). Read more and submit written testimony here: www.neighborswelcomeri.org/resources/bi...
We made it easy to submit written testimony if you can’t attend the hearing! Details and guides here: www.neighborswelcomeri.org/resources/bi...
Big Week at the State House! Today, Tuesday, March 31st, the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing will hear three of our bills: Our Technical Fixes bill (H8039), Faith-based Affordable Housing (H7445) and Conversion Incentive (H8142).
Mélodie Pimentel: A report from the East Providence No Kings event
"The people are standing up,” said organizer Libby Merrill. “We do not want oligarchs running the country.”
steveahlquist.substack.com/p/melodie-pi...
East Providence showed up today! Over 100 residents turned up and united to say that the power belongs with the people, not the elite.
Thank you to all of the EPiC members who came out and the new faces. Thank you also to @bobdasilva.bsky.social for joining us. 🚫👑
Today's No Kings protest in East Providence was a powerful demonstration of courage and leadership from folks in our community.
I'm proud to have attended this demonstration alongside them.
Pictures taken on a Lomo’ Instant Square Glass Camera.
Same boat. Still upset about it.
Congrats @melodiepimen.tel!
Kudos to RI's @melodiepimen.tel for this excellent piece.
In this piece, I dive into why these barriers are a step backward for Portugal. I believe that self-determination is a human right that should not be limited by geography, bureaucracy, or pathologization. (2/2)
www.publico.pt/2026/03/17/p...
A social media graphic for an opinion piece published in P3 (Público). The background shows a group of people at a protest in a Portuguese city, holding a large banner that reads "TRANS, NÃO-BINÁRIXS." In the top right corner is the orange and white P3 logo. Overlaid text reads: "OPINION: Identity is not a diagnosis: why does the state want to create obstacles to who we are? Changing your name was a worthy and simple process. Now, Parliament wants to step back to 2011, imposing medical barriers that ignore our self-determination and isolate the trans diaspora. Opinion from Mélodie Pimentel, author of op-eds in The Guardian and Al Jazeera. She focuses her work and analysis on the defense of human rights."
My op-ed was published in Público today, one of Portugal’s prominent newspapers of record.
This story is deeply personal. Under Portugal's current self-determination law, I was able to change my legal name and gender through a simple, dignified process. But now that process is under threat. (1/2)
Four people stand side-by-side indoors for a group photo. From left to right are Jimmy Pimentel, with long wavy blonde hair in a green plaid shirt; Melodie Pimentel, with dark curly hair and glasses in a dark flannel shirt; Brenner Lister, in a white zip-up hoodie; and Bethany Ryan, in a black t-shirt. In the background on the far left, a Cape Verdean flag hangs on the wall.
Had a great evening with friends! We went out tonight to support the Mayor's Advisory Council on Indigenous Affairs' fundraiser at the Cape Verdean Progressive Center.
Press release: Rhode Island continues to fall short in providing affordable homes for low-income renters
“We are still not producing enough homes affordable to residents with the lowest incomes, leaving families without the stability they need to thrive."
steveahlquist.substack.com/p/press-rele...
A train with a jade green locomotive in what’s called lightning strip paint, with a red oval New York Central herald on its nose, under wires alongside a highway
A train with a jade green locomotive in what’s called lightning strip paint, with number 1036 in large numbers at the back, under wires alongside a highway, as the train goes away
A commuter train goes over a bridge over a body of water. It’s led by a locomotive painted green, with a lightning stripe on the side, and lettered New York Central.
MBTA “New York Central” heritage unit at Providence and Apponaug? Check!
Libby will serve our city with compassion & dignity. She is not only extremely knowledgeable, but also understands the complexities of running a school system. I believe she is well equipped to engage with constituents & stakeholders alike.
That's why I am proud to endorse her. (2/2)
...support in this coming election cycle, and I would like to ask each of my friends and family in Ward 3 to support her in her mission to provide our students with a high quality education, and our teachers with the resources they need. Let's all work together to move East Providence forward. 2/2
I am very happy to see that @libbymerrill.bsky.social is running for Ward 3 School Committee. Libby is exactly what we need in this city - an intelligent, policy oriented person who cares deeply about the community — and I am very proud to call her my friend. She has my unwavering... 1/2
A group of seven community volunteers of various ages stand together behind a large wooden conference table at Weaver Library. The table is filled with assembled hygiene care kits in clear plastic bags. One young volunteer in a pink jacket has their face obscured by a blue heart emoji. The atmosphere is bright and collaborative.
A white wall inside the library featuring a large mural that reads "THANK YOU" in bold brown lettering. The central English text is surrounded by "thank you" written in dozens of different languages and scripts, reflecting a diverse and grateful community spirit.
A close-up of a cardboard collection box with a flyer for the EPiC (East Providence in Community) drive. The flyer features illustrations of toiletries and a checklist of needed items, including socks, soap, hand warmers, and dental hygiene products.
A close-up shot of several finished hygiene kits packed into clear gallon-sized bags. Visible items include warm socks, deodorant, and wipes. Each bag features a prominent blue card that reads "MOVE FORWARD EAST PROVIDENCE" with EPiC’s social media and website info.
Thank you to all who donated and volunteered at our Community Drive! We will be distributing these kits throughout our city, to other non-profits, and to neighbors in need. ❤️🩹🪥🫧
📅 TOMORROW! Join us for our Hygiene Care Kit Drive on Sunday, March 1st @ Weaver Library (Conference Room) from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
We’ll be accepting donations for care kits throughout the afternoon, or you can simply drop in to help us pack! Let’s come together & make an impact. See you there? 💙✨
Opposing new housing is an intentional choice that puts human lives in jeopardy. Whether it’s people dying on the streets due to being unhoused, or LGBTQ folks unable to flee to safety because New England is too expensive, these choices cost lives.
The Speaker is right.
