Following Governor McKee’s State of the State Address, the Herald reached out to several of Cranston’s leaders to get their take on the speech. They laid out their perspectives on the Governor’s take on such important matters as education, healthcare, and retirement, and infrastructure.

Mayor Kenneth Hopkins

“The Governor laid out his vision and plans for Rhode Island on a number of important state issues. He is the state’s top cheerleader. Many of his goals and programs get reflected in his budget that will be reviewed by the General Assembly for funding and implementation.  Any financial assistance for local cities and towns is always welcomed.”

Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse

Cranston Public Schools is always grateful for the support we receive from our federal, state and local government. We pride ourselves in the strong education that we provide here in Cranston, and we know that the students who graduate from our school are valued members of our community. Providing real opportunities for their future is our priority. We also know that opportunities for all of our students and for Rhode Island’s future, requires support from our government leaders. We look forward to learning more about Rhode Island’s funding for Cranston Public Schools as the governor makes his budget public later this week.

State Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung

"We've just gotten our first glance at the proposed budget, and there's a couple of big positives, including millions more in state funding for Cranston's schools.  Our older adults will also be very happy that they'll be able to keep more of their own retirement money, as now they won't have to pay any state taxes on their first fifty-thousand dollars of retirement income (up from twenty thousand).  I also like that there's more money for our nursing homes as well, because our more fragile parents and grandparents deserve great care. 

We'll comb through the details and undoubtedly see further improvements as the House now takes over the budgeting process and reconciles all of the wants and asks with actual revenue income."

City Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli

It was an honor to attend Governor McKee's State of the State address. As a coach, the Governor’s emphasis on teamwork and the analogy of building a successful team really resonates with me. I commend the commitment to education, especially the focus on early childhood education and Early Intervention. The proposed increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates are certainly necessary to address the impending collapse of our healthcare system. The allocation of critical infrastructure funds to municipalities is also a positive step forward and will be well utilized in Cranston.

I share the sentiments expressed by my colleague, Representative Chippendale in the official Republican response, particularly regarding the need to reactivate the Rate Payer Advisory Board for more public input on proposed rate hikes. The rising cost of electricity for Rhode Islanders demands immediate attention, and restoring power to the Public Utilities Commission for a thorough review of renewable energy supply and costs is crucial.

Governor McKee's proposed budget, prioritizing investments in education, small businesses, and healthcare without imposing broad-based taxes, aligns with our shared vision for a stronger Rhode Island. I eagerly anticipate working collaboratively to ensure a bright future not only in Cranston, but across the entire State of Rhode Island.

Requests for statements were also made to City Council President Jessica Marino, City Councilman Robert Ferri, City Councilman John Donegan, School Committee Chairman Michael Trafficante, and Police Chief Michael J. Winquist  but they declined or were unavailable.