An odd guest at Harrington Hall

Photos: Steve Ahlquist

I did not vote for Gina Raimondo-the best of the three pro-capitalist candidates. I wrote in MOTHER TERESA, inspired by own conscience, not by that registered Republican (and I hope not an Ayn Rand fan) Bishop Thomas Tobin.

But your first sentence here rings true: Her inauguration last week "left many with a sense of hopefulness for the future." Providence Journal front page yesterday: "Nobody should be homeless".

The governor, and other state officers, took a tour of Harrington Hall, R.I.'s largest shelter. In the photo Gina Raimondo has a softer than usual facial expression. No, she is not a Planned Parenthood battle ax.

Last year I wrote a letter of complaint to the Rhode Island Public Health Department about conditions at the Howard Ave. shelter in Cranston. A homeless friend of mine, described as "Ragged Dave", in a letter to the Providence Journal, had spent a nightmarish night there. Dave was tired of sleeping in his broken down Lincoln Town Car. Oddly enough he was once a millionaire, related to the Alpert family. Brown University Medical School is named after this family. His aunt's name was Gracie Alpert. She is survived by her husband, Wesley Alpert.

The R.I. Public Health Dept. says it will quickly respond to complaints via e-mail. But I never heard from them. I will blog this post.

(Comment on Warwick Beacon editorial, 1/13/15, "Atmosphere of unity offers opportunity of action")