Rhode Island

‘Never looked better’: 2018 Alviti tribute praised his work to improve RI’s roads and bridges

Published

12 months ago

February 7, 2024

‘Never looked better’: 2018 Alviti tribute praised his work to improve RI’s roads and bridges

PROVIDENCE – Few Washington Bridge commuters are likely to hail the state’s transportation director, Peter Alviti, as Rhode Island’s man-of-the-year. The frustrations since the Dec. 11 bridge shutdown run too deep.

But that was, in essence, what the DaVinci Center for Community Progress did in 2018 in a nine-minute video hailing Alviti as its “Community Humanitarian of the Year.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, while there is still much work to be done, Rhode Island’s roads and bridges have never looked better,” says the unseen narrator, former NBC10-sportscaster Joe Rocco.

“It’s no coincidence,” finishes Rocco, whose voice segues into an on-camera cameo by Armand Sabitoni, then General Secretary-Treasurer & New England Regional Manager for the Laborers International Union.

“He gets an A plus,” says Sabitoni.

“Before Peter got there, there was a different culture in the Department of Transportation. Things just weren’t getting done. It was his idea for RhodeWorks ,and then obviously the governor embraced it and they both ran with it,” says Sabitoni of the 10 year, $5.7 billion transportation improvement plan adopted in 2016 that relied in part on the truck tolls.

The truck tolls have since been ruled unconstitutional. And Rhode Island clearly still has work to do, aside from the undetermined next steps in addressing the Washington Bridge emergency.

Of the 782 bridges in the state, 120, or 15.3%, are classified as structurally deficient, according to the latest state-by-state rundown by the Federal Highway Administration. A recent analysis of that database by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association found Rhode Island had the fourth-highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges in the nation.

Video traces Alviti’s rise to head of RIDOT

Filmed in what now feels like another era, when Gina Raimondo was still governor, the video was produced by One Cut Productions, in collaboration with Rocco’s own RocJo Productions and is packed with tributes to Alviti – a son of Silver Lake and an “engineer in public service.”

It traces Alviti’s beginnings, from “the rich culture of Italian immigrant families in Silver Lake” – where being an Eagle Scout “created in Peter a deep sense of civic duty, morality, leadership, charity, and religious values.”

Then there’s his career milestones: Cranston Public Works Director; Program director for an arm of the Laborers Union; the $182,664-a-year director of RIDOT, the agency at the center of the current firestorm of unanswered questions about the state of the Washington Bridge, including how long potentially “catastrophic” failings went undetected.

In the video, Alviti’s wife, Kathy Lanni, says she initially opposed his move to RIDOT. But, she explained, he “kind of sat me down and said, ‘I want this to be the capstone of my career. I want to end my career in public service, which meant giving up a lot’.” (Cue: Images of Alviti boating. )

As the unseen Rocco explains: “Peter Alviti wanted to end his long and impressive career as an engineer in public service. It was 2015, and despite some pushback at home, sacrifice of free time and a lower salary, he took the governor’s offer to be the Rhode Island Director of Transportation.”

“Typical Peter, thinking less about himself than the impact he could make for the greater good,” Rocco told The Journal on Wednesday.

More: Peter Alviti: RIDOT director faces bridge repairs, possible RIPTA showdown

Who paid for the video?

A question posed by The Journal: Who paid for the video produced for the DaVinci Center, which last year alone got $67,085 from the elderly-affairs division of the state’s Department of Human Services and a $10,000 legislative grant?

Rocco said his company filmed and edited the video, and Kurt Bertozzi’s company, One Cut Productions scripted it at the reduced price they charge non-profits, which he did not recall exactly but said was probably under $5,000. He said the DaVinci Center paid.

Rocco said the bridge closure has probably added about 15 minutes to his and his wife’s own trips from Rehoboth to Cranston and Providence.

“It’s too bad it happened,” but “it could be worse,” he said.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Lucky For Life, Numbers Midday winning numbers for Jan. 19, 2025

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 19, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

08-24-35-43-46, Lucky Ball: 04

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

Midday: 7-6-3-9

Evening: 4-0-9-1

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

07-12-29-34-35, Extra: 15

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Parking bans ahead of snow for Southern New England | ABC6

Published

11 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Parking bans ahead of snow for Southern New England | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Severe cold weather that is expected for Jan. 19 has caused some communities to put parking bans into effect.

Cumberland: 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Burrillville: 12 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 6 a.m. on Jan. 20.
West Warwick: 4 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Scituate: 12 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Putnam: 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
University of Rhode Island: a partial ban from 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Swansea: 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 8 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Fall River: 2 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 9 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Pawtucket: 4 p.m. on Jan. 19 until further notice.
Woonsocket: 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 2 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Warren: 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 7 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Cranston: 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Bristol: 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Central Falls: 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 until further notice.
North Providence: 6 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 20.
North Kingstown: 6 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 6 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Seekonk: 4 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Lincoln: 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Smithfield: 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Johnston: 4 p.m. on Jan. 19 until 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Providence: 10 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 6 a.m. on Jan. 20.
East Providence: 8 p.m. on Jan. 19 until further notice.
Warwick: 6 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Raynham: 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 8 a.m. on Jan. 20.
Coventry: 3 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Taunton: 10 p.m. on Jan. 19 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 20.

Parking ban updates can be found here as well.

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Rhode Island

Best One Bite Pizza Reviews in 2024: Top 4 spots Dave Portnoy ranked in RI

Published

19 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Best One Bite Pizza Reviews in 2024: Top 4 spots Dave Portnoy ranked in RI

Bar Stool Sports founder Dave Portnoy certainly loves a good pizza.

In 2024, Portnoy went all over the state and reviewed the pizzas of four Rhode Island establishments as part of his online show: One Bite Pizza Reviews.

Portnoy grades a pizza shop off his personal criteria: the store-owners’ vibes and the attitude of the patrons eating there, the ambience and atmosphere of the place and, arguably the most important part: the quality of the pie.

Lower ratings on Portnoy’s scale tend to be around 6.0 to 7.5, with the highest ratings being in the 8’s and 9’s.

Here are 2024’s best pizza restaurants in the state, according to Portnoy’s pizza reviews.

4. Merlino’s Pizzeria — Cranston, Rhode Island

Most of this review was Portnoy complaining about the then-recent backlash he received for his comments on the return of Ed Cooley, a former Providence College basketball coach.

Concerning Merlino’s Pizzeria at 889 Dyer Ave, he said it was good and that the pie had “Papa Gino’s vibes.”

He gave Merlino’s Pizzeria an 7.4 out of 10.

“Good, middle-of-the-road pizza,” Portnoy said.

3. D. Palmieri’s Bakery — Johnston, Rhode Island

At first, Portnoy got pizza strips from D. Palmieri’s Bakery at 624 Killingly St., having been told to review the local classic. He tried a cold pizza strip and said it was an acquired taste, giving the Rhode Island delicacy a 5.8.

“If this is Providence food, then everybody’s going hungry,” Portnoy said.

The owner then came out and convinced Portnoy to try their hot bakery pizza.

After approximately 10 minutes of waiting and locals taking selfies with Portnoy, the actual pizza came. Portnoy took a couple bites and gave it a 7.5, complimenting the crispy crust.

“I’m glad I tried this,” Portnoy said.

2. Nice Slice Pizzeria — Providence, Rhode Island

Visiting Nice Slice Pizzeria at 767 Westminster St, Portnoy took one bite and exclaimed “nice,” following up with a “no pun intended,” commenting that he was glad that he and his team picked Nice Slice.

“I take back Providence not having good pizza,” Portnoy said. “This is really good.”

He gave Nice Slice a 7.7.

1. Francesco’s Pizzeria — Providence, Rhode Island

This Providence spot was the standout champion of One Bite Reviews in 2024 in Rhode Island; the restaurant owners heralded Portnoy’s arrival with a sign saying “We Want Portnoy.”

Portnoy said he really liked the pizza at Francesco’s Pizzeria at 357 Hope St. He was surprised by his enjoyment of the pizza, calling it a distant relative of a New Haven pizza.

“This is as good as you can really get from me without getting to the eights,” Portnoy said.

He gave the pizza at Francesco’s Pizzeria a 7.9.

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