RAVING:  The magnificent Providence Public Library System will stay open at least another year, thanks to a GIFT from PPL to our Agua Pyro metropolis (At least we’re burning water, and not books YET!).  The Irrational Optimist gave a sigh of relief to learn that the system will continue this year, but she feels a RANT coming on:  that the PPL had to BRIBE our dear city to stay in biz! Indeed, many of us recognize that indeed public libraries are the Universities of the People providing free access to information and ideas (as opposed to our Public Higher Ed system that continues to make the college dream increasingly out of reach..)  Our free book exchange system has a ring of jewels around the city that have opened the doors to learning for hundreds of thousands of AguaPyrans offering exciting adventures for the brain on a regular basis to young and old with the crown jewel of our DownCity branch, unparalleled by any other book depository in our fair land, and the magnificent Elmwood Avenue branch, truly a palace for books.

Here’s hoping, gentle readers, that all will heed the call to support our palaces for the printed word.  Despite the amazing access to information provided by this the All things Autobahn, there’s still nothing quite like a visit to those Mansions for Methodical Musing, the Realm of Research and Rumination. Who out there has the attachment as I to these Incomparable Institutions of Ideas? But ah, I am asphyxiating in alliteration. The Irrational Optimist hopes to hear from you!

Maybe these denizens of Down City Delight will hold a Penthouse Party (plenty of ice water) for those hapless households whose foreclosed landlords failed to pay their water bills – or at least share a gourmet snack or two.

The list of Westin condo owners includes some high-profile names, including Thomas M. Ryan, chief executive of the CVS drugstore chain, and his wife, Cathy H. Ryan. The Ryans paid $1,069,000 in December for a 1,480-square-foot condo on the 23rd floor, according to Providence deed records.

Kenneth F. Guarino, a Rhode Island native who runs an international pornography business, bought a condo on the 29th floor for $1,610,900 in April with his wife, Elvira H. Famiglietti.

Gloria Duchin and her husband, David Duchin, paid $1 million in February for a condo on the 29th floor. Gloria Duchin Inc., of East Providence, is a leading manufacturer of metal Christmas tree ornaments.

My last trip to a Red Chicken state gas pump wiped out my budget for lunching out – it’s ham and cheese roll ups rather than exciting city seafood! And get this – I go to Taxachusetts to earn my daily bread – and the fuel is cheaper there! The cost of my carbon footprint is forcing a change in chew choices.

So I could turn to public transportation – or could I? If I want to get to Olneyville from Southside, I have to take the RIPTOFF scenic route – via down city! And the cost per fare has just gone up. (Now RIPTA drivers, don’t take offence – I know you’re not taking new vacations with this added fare hike)

Continuing to rant… I refer to the RIPTA website – negotiating this Uncle Wiggly game of directions is like the usual Red Chicken directions – take a left where the Star Market used to be! The names of the bus lines don’t make sense if you’ve never been there, and the map becomes a surreal or impressionist blur of colors when you expand it large enough to read!

But the Irrational Optimist rises again – RIPTA does have a wonderful summer services to the beaches. To Scarborough Beach – only 1.5 hours of bus bonanza each way – with all your beach toys! Be sure to take along a good book, or at least your Game Boy for the ride. Or (get it while it lasts) enjoy the Providence Newport Ferry! Don’t be depressed by the devastation at the petrol station – get out there and get some of those UV rays (that’s another rant – soon to come!!)

Back to the Providence lasting impressions – Potholes.  

Indeed, this is the anniversary of our Providence fearless leader’s 2006 budget address, at which time, the good Mayah pledged a new initiative, using a “hotspot” map to identify those roads needing to be addressed first.  This of course makes me wonder how the hot spots are identified – the City website gives a number to call in – is it like American Idol, the most calls win?  Or is it the address, the calls with the right zip get the zippy response?  Hawkins Street;  West End Avenue; Blackstone Boulevard…  how hot is each spot?

I recently visited Hawkins Street, identified as the street the DPW would address first – lucky my highly efficient small tires!  We were able to skirt more than one difficult impression thanks to …”246 pothole visits in just 2 years” – clearly a shining example of the city’s response the Citizen Satisfaction Survey (just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it!)

I do extend sympathy to our Director of Public Works, Sal Soloman  – a man of self proclaimed ‘street smarts’ (see his interview in ‘City News’).   You also have to have some common sense and some street-smarts. Being book smart doesn’t mean you’re gonna’ do well at your job….You have to know the streets. There’s so much to it but the bottom line is common sense and street smarts.

So thanks to the ‘street smarts’ of Sal and his crews, I didn’t get lost in a pothole yet. I know that both the city and state papas and mamas are struggling once again to stretch the budgets to meet the huge variety of needs.  And I’m really not against taxes, if they are directed towards the needs of the city or the state.  As long as it’s a fair game, and one that respects public safety!

And what is it with bridges?  I traveled over the beautiful new blue span towards Fall River last week – but only because I was going North – to bad for those south bound drivers – is there some prejudice against people heading South??  Hey I grew up in the South – it’s a wonderful place to visit!  Now I understand we are going to have another 95 – 195 adventure as the DOT closes more exits and entrances, diverting us further from our destinations…  Don’t we WANT visitors in our city this summer?  We seem to make it harder all the time! 

And then there’s the 95 bridge in Pawtucket – pretty soon only bicycles will be able to travel this span – once again – I DO believe in taxes to maintain our streets, roads AND BRIDGES… but whose vacation are we paying for?  ( Not someone who is traveling over our bridges, to be sure…)

But enough ranting – want to add a few RAVES to this column!  

First, I had the pleasure and honor of attending the Genesis Center 25th year anniversary.  (and I got there over the streets, roads and bridges in our city…)  For those of you not familiar, the Genesis Center is a magnificent family learning center enabling immigrants and refugees to gain English skills, train for jobs, continue education, while providing pre-school education for a rainbow of kids whose parents are gaining language education and more.  As various dedicated staff, board members and students were recognized, I felt the beating of the warm heart that makes our city great.  These are the hearts that WELCOME newcomers to Providence and Rhode Island  (as opposed to some of our elected officials and citizens who seem to want to scare away the exciting addition of new energy, new cultures.)

And finally, Saturday’s sun brought a bumper crop of gardeners to appreciate the annual plant sale for Southside Community Gardens.  This agency two has served our city for more than two decades – offering a chance for inner city residents to enjoy the benefits and bounty of green thumb activities.  

In closing… seems best to stay off the streets, roads and bridges, and tend to the possibilities that only a garden can bring (the irrational optimist speaks out again…)   

But in the face of these frustrations, it’s SPRING IN PROVIDENCE and I feel once again a kind of IRRATIONAL HOPE. Despite all the signs and omens, our unique city state and its diverse salad bowl of cultures and contributions beckons me to confront the critics and naysayers, to spotlight evidence of hope and possibility even as I focus on the foibles that threaten the health and happiness of our town.

Yes, I am your new harbinger of relentless ranting and irrational hope. In this occasional column for the site that hopes to ‘Connect Providence’ I will be musing about both the contradictions and irritations of our city and it’s surrounds – while providing sketches of the unexpected beauty and goodness that can bring us back from the brink of despair.

Yes, I am a transplant – with 30 years of residence in the Providence area that makes me both a home-girl and a newcomer. For 15 years of my tenure in the Red Chicken state I toiled in neighborhoods across our city, and lived in many zip codes – Olneyville to Academy Ave, the Hill to the Park, finally landing just north of the city line in sister city No. P.

As I gaze on our city lights down the road with both awe and consternation, I will continue to challenge the contradictions, while ferreting out examples of our goodness. Tonight I gaze toward our urban center glitz that overshadows the swollen neighborhoods where youngsters yearning for the advantages of the ‘Hill’ can’t have art or music in their schools, and I’ll return to my intro remarks:

Why IZZIT? Why do the citizens of Providence who bask in the comfort of the eastern zips shut tight the purse, close the shutters, and send their children to select schools while the children of the south and west clamor for a decent chance through education? Yes, spring is here: the city will soon be blooming with the new growth of the season. How can a city with so much appearance of prosperity close the door on public education?

I believe we are a city and state of good will – I believe the resources and energy and inspiration exist to confront this dilemma in our public halls of learning. With my irrational hope I believe we can meet the challenge.

Still I ask you… WHY IZZIT? (All responses and solutions welcome!)