The Agenda

Nearly four weeks after I sent 10 questions about HCR 362 to Rep. James Langevin, I still have no answer. However Eileen Sadasiv has sent me a copy of a letter she got from Langevin on Iran and she OK'd my sending it further—see below.

Rod Driver, inveterate thorn in the buttocks of the corpus politicus status quo, sent some questions to U.S. Representative Jim Langevin by email, by fax and by certified snail mail on July 3. As of this writing, he hasn’t “yet received even the ‘I-appreciate-hearing-from-you’ form letter.”

The letter below was published in the Warwick Beacon on July 10, the Westerly Sun on July 17, the online edition of the Providence Journal on July 24, and possibly elsewhere.

Our representatives need to answer questions about Iran

Under orders from AIPAC (the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee), Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin co-sponsored HCR 362—a mysterious and dangerous resolution calling for a blockade of Iran.

Governor Carcieri

Dear Governor Carcieri,

I write to you to express my displeasure regarding a recent “Pro-Life” rally in the State House. Though I fully support any view you or anyone else may hold on this issue, I find it quite inappropriate for you to host such an event in the State House rotunda. You, as governor, are the representative of each and every Rhode Islander. For you to open the doors of the State House for supporters of one belief, simultaneously slams the doors on the other. Would you allow a pro-choice rally within the rotunda? Would you lend voice to the other segment of the population of this state who support the right to choose? I doubt it.

Two types of pipes commonly found in Providence. Top: Peter; Bottom: Ted Johnson

(Because the rest of Providence is off at law school or some crap.)

By Agenda Staff

I live in downtown Providence and have seen 5 or 6 of these pipes coming out of the sidewalk (photo attached). Do you know what they are? Since there's no subway here, it doesn't seem like an exhaust pipe, and the design is unusual … any ideas?
—Peter (doubleagentrecords.com)

The Agenda's crack(ed) research team sprang into action on this and found Michael Newman, Chief of the Plumbing Division at the Department of Inspection and Standards who was willing to explain the pipes' function.

While it's true that there is no subway here, there are definitely networks of basements, sub-basements and interconnected tunnels in the Lovecraftian depths of Providence.

These “vent pipes” are for active venting of underground utility tunnels, especially gas and common utility ducts (those that carry multiple utility channels).

A combination of factors and events cause or allow various kinds of vapors to collect and build up in these enclosed spaces, including gas line seepage, moisture condensation, catalytic gas emission from electrical conduits (caused by field effects on insulation materials), and off-gassing from containment and insulation materials. Besides the obvious risk of fire, utility workers are at risk from breathing these gases.

!http://images.agendanation.org/issues/web/PrvTomShort.jpg(Providence Tomorrow Draft Plan Announcement)!

The Public Comment Period on the Providence Tomorrow Draft Comprehensive Plan has been *extended until May 1*. The public hearing previously scheduled for April 11 has been moved to May 2.

by David Segal, State Representative, District Two

Best wishes to Ward 9 Councilman Miguel Luna, who's resting up at home after a recent operation.

by Matt Obert

Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, and RI Jobs with Justice are calling for applications for a seat on the Providence City Planning Commission (CPC) that will become vacant in January 2007.

by Zdenko Juskuv

Koren Carbuccia, speaking at a press conference at the State House, said “The State of Rhode Island will not allow me to be the best parent that I can be.”