Mélodie Pimentel

Aw! Your floof is so adorable.
Here's Batman napping in the sun.
#catsinsun

East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva, wearing a white shirt and red polka-dot tie, leans over a wooden desk to sign a legislative document. Above the photo, teal text reads, "East Providence passes live/work tax exemption to support affordable housing."

A collage of three photos. The large top photo shows Mayor DaSilva speaking at a "Rhode Island House of Representatives" podium. Two smaller photos at the bottom show officials talking and an audience seated in a historic room. Green text at the top reads, "Mayor DaSilva highlights affordable housing during House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi's housing bill launch."

A screenshot of a news article from EastBayRI titled "'Empty' East Providence condos won't stay empty for long." The featured photo shows a modern three-story gray building on the corner of Ivy Street and Taunton Avenue. The caption explains that the development includes nine townhomes and four "live-work" units that were stalled due to tax code complications.

It's great when you open up the City of East Providence's newsletter in your email inbox and see housing mentioned 7 times.

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."

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 two-panel meme comparing the geopolitical and physical risks of oil transportation to the stability of renewable energy. The top panel shows an aerial view of a massive oil tanker on fire in the middle of the ocean, with a thick plume of black smoke billowing into the sky. Text overlay reads: "Energy stuck in the Strait of Hormuz." The bottom panel shows a peaceful, sunny field with rows of solar panels in the foreground and several large wind turbines in the background under a clear blue sky. Text overlay reads: "Energy not stuck in the Strait of Hormuz."

It's time for us to move beyond disposable energy — fuel that we must buy, burn, & then buy more forever — as Technology Connections put it in a recent video. Let's instead invest in a durable asset that sits there generating free* electricity for years. Utility-scale PV farms are the answer.

"...if we make it easier for residents to consider bus transportation, ridership will grow. This is vital, as current cuts may lead to a fiscal spiral where decreased service leads to lower ridership, which then justifies further cuts. This bill is a simple way to help break that cycle." (2/2)

Dear Chair Burke and Committee members, My name is Mélodie Pimentel. I live in East Providence (Senate District 14, represented by Senate President Lawson), and I am writing in support of the Commuter Transportation Benefits Act (Bill S2323). I believe this bill will lower the barrier for those employed in our state to consider utilizing bus transportation for their daily commute. My personal experience with RIPTA’s pilot program at the University of Rhode Island speaks directly to this. For years, while pursuing my undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island, I commuted by car every day from East Providence to Kingston. While I enjoy driving — especially as a car enthusiast who specifically sought out a manual transmission vehicle — the long commute was eating into my budget due to the increasing cost of gas and maintenance, while also taking away valuable study time. Thankfully, RIPTA and the University of Rhode Island launched a pilot program providing no-cost bus passes for students. While this differs slightly from the bill before you (employers are not required to subsidize the passes), it lowered the threshold for students to consider the bus. Prior to this program, I had never considered taking public transit to campus. However, after doing the math, I found that driving halfway to Wickford and then taking the bus saved me both fuel and time. I no longer had to search for parking on campus during peak hours, and I could leave my car parked safely in a covered garage. The RIPTA pilot program saved me countless hours and enabled me to study during time I would have otherwise spent in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I believe my experience can be extrapolated to the bill before you: if we make it easier for residents to consider bus transportation, ridership will grow. This is vital, as current cuts may lead to a fiscal spiral where decreased service leads to lower ridership, which then justifies further cuts. This bill is a simple way to help break th…

Today, the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Labor and Gaming is holding a hearing on the Commuter Transportation Benefits Act (S2323). My testimony in support of this legislation is below 👇 (1/2)

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"No place else in the state has figured this out. East Providence is leading the way on this, frankly." 2/2

'Empty' East Providence condos won't stay empty for long - EastBayRI.com A mixed-use, owner-occupied condo development for first-time homeowners has sat vacant for nearly two years due to a difficulty posed by existing tax law. But that has now changed.

"According to Garlick, those who were chosen in the lottery back in 2024 have not lost their place due to the delay. He said that three people are approved and ready to move into the live-work units, and six are ready to move into the residential townhouses." 1/2

www.eastbayri.com/east-provide...

That sucks :(. A few weeks ago, out of the blue, Meta prevented me from making ANY comment for an entire week.

I'm glad we are able to remain in contact! Welcome to Bluesky.

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)

I have known @libbymerrill.bsky.social for several years and I am proud to call her my friend. So, the moment I heard she announced that she's running for Ward 3 East Providence School Committee not only brightened up my day, but my year. (1/2)

@neighborswelcomeri.bsky.social 2027 housing wishlist for Rhode Island? ;)

Light, Air, and a Social Stair.

The "Vancouver Stair" is an open and cross vented single stair with the dwelling entrances and elevator opening to each stair landing.

No dark long units, no internal bedrooms.

Green space similar to the houses next door.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Democracy Docket has obtained a draft of the executive order being circulated with the White House that would allow Trump to take unprecedented control over voting.

Legal experts called the order blatantly unconstitutional. Read the full, 17-page order below👇 https://bit.ly/4l0gmXp

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.

Speaker Shekarchi announces his sixth package of housing bills "The sad reality is that there is a direct correlation between rising housing costs and increased homelessness," said Speaker Shekarchi.

Speaker Shekarchi announces his sixth package of housing bills

"The sad reality is that there is a direct correlation between rising housing costs and increased homelessness," said Speaker Shekarchi.

steveahlquist.substack.com/p/speaker-sh...

Diabolical.

Making them pay to have their licenses invalidated and then reissued is yet another thing they can sue about.

Barrington, one of RI's wealthiest towns is filled with "Democrat" NIMBYs who proudly display "all are welcome here" yard signs & yet are actively opposing a housing development that would not only provide hundreds of market rate homes, but 25% affordable housing too!

Cognitive dissonance much?

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An elevated view of the Henderson Bridge in winter, highlighting a dark, paved bike path that has been completely cleared of snow. The path curves alongside a multi-lane highway, both of which stand out in sharp contrast against the surrounding white, snow-covered ground and the river in the background.

We were recently hit by a record-breaking blizzard (over 30 inches of snow) and noticed that the bike path at Henderson Bridge has already been cleared by RIDOT.

This is how it should be done — bike paths being treated as essential transportation infrastructure.

Excited to see Speaker Joe Shekarchi's 2026 housing package! We're looking forward to helping push these bills across the finish line 💪

We were thrilled to join Speaker @joeshekarchi.bsky.social and other housing champions yesterday for the release of the Speaker's 2026 housing package.

This is the Speaker's sixth suite of housing legislation since 2021.

Kansas Sends Letters To Trans People Demanding The Immediate Surrender Of Drivers Licenses "The legislature did not include a grace period."

The cruelty is intentional! Kansas could easily mail licenses w/a revised sex marker & provide a return envelope. Instead, they subject folks to criminal liability if they drive w/o a license.

This only proves that this law isn't about "accurate" markers, it's about their animus for trans Kansans.

Federal agents release Columbia student after university says they used false pretenses to enter building and detain her | CNN Ellie Aghayeva – a Columbia University student who was detained early Thursday after the university said federal immigration agents allegedly used false pretenses to enter a campus residential buildin...

Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University student who was detained early Thursday after the university said federal immigration agents allegedly used false pretenses to enter a campus residential building, has been released.

www.cnn.com/2026/02/26/u...

Throw the guy in his own jail.

The hearing on the emergency show cause motion is starting now. The public line is working.

This arises in a class action from trans inmates who are challenging the Trump administration's denial of gender-affirming health care.

Plaintiffs say guards are retaliating against witnesses.

We've reached the Nazi part of Trump's speech: "The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception. Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration ... "

ok normally i'm all for making fun of donald trump but this is actually the median american opinion on what the goals of our housing policy should be