Rhode Island

Should rich Rhode Islanders pay higher taxes? Here’s what’s being proposed, and why

Published

1 year ago

March 4, 2025

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Should rich Rhode Islanders pay higher taxes? Here’s what’s being proposed, and why

Progressives and union leaders say fear that millionaires will flee RI to avoid higher taxes is a “myth.”
Massachusetts collected more from its millionaires tax than expected and did not see an exodus of the rich.
Business groups say higher taxes would make RI less competitive.

PROVIDENCE − Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley on Tuesday kicked off this year’s campaign to raise state income taxes on the top 1% of earners wearing an “Eat the Rich” T-shirt.

“You know they say that we have to have the tax policy we have because it benefits job creators,” Crowley told a coalition of groups gathered at the State House in support of the tax hike. “We say we can’t solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s tax policy.”

Raising taxes on the wealthy has been a goal of Rhode Island progressives and unions at least since the state’s top tax rate was lowered in 2010.

But the idea has been a political non-starter for a series of governors and General Assembly leaders, including the current officeholders.

Post-pandemic federal aid and budget surpluses have reduced the impetus for the increased revenue that new higher taxes would bring, but the state’s fiscal picture could change quickly if there is an economic downturn or Republicans in Washington make deep cuts in Medicaid. The federal government splits the cost of Medicaid coverage with the states, and a reduction in federal funding would make states pony up more or cancel health insurance for some portion of residents.

Under those tougher scenarios, the tax plan the Revenue for Rhode Islanders coalition is pushing − a 3% surcharge on income above $625,000 − may become more politically appealing.

Advocates estimate that the tax increase would generate $190 million in annual revenue.

What about Massachusetts?

Rhode Island progressives believe their case for raising taxes on the rich has been bolstered by Massachusetts voters passing the “Fair Share” tax increase − a 4% surcharge on income over $1 million − in 2022.

Massachusetts’ higher income taxes make it less likely that wealthy residents will move across the border for tax reasons and, tax-the-rich advocates say, the Bay State’s experience with a millionaires tax is encouraging.

The Economic Progress Institute releases a policy paper Tuesday arguing that tax data shows millionaires are less likely to move than lower-income residents, and that when they do move, taxes are not usually the reason.

“There’s no evidence we’ve seen of a tax flight from Massachusetts or anywhere else, and the revenue impact is significant,” Economic Progress Institute research director Alan Krinsky said.

Andrew Farnitano, communications director for the group what campaigned for the Massachusetts millionaires tax, called the tax hike a “resounding, unqualified success” and said it had not sent Bay State millionaires and billionaires packing.

He offered as evidence that advocates had advertised that the tax would generate $2 billion per year, and in the first full year of collections Massachusetts took in $2.4 billion.

“They said the money will not show up, because multimillionaires will flee the state en masse rather than pay a new tax. And they were flat-out wrong,” Farnitano said.

In opposing a tax hike on the rich, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee last year said he hoped millionaires would move to Rhode Island to get away from the tax hike in Massachusetts.

How many people would pay more?

Revenue for Rhode Islanders estimates that 5,700 of Rhode Island’s 500,000 tax filers would pay more under the surcharge plan the group supports.

The tax increase is spelled out in legislation − H5473 and S329 − from Rep. Karen Alzate, D-Pawtucket, and Sen. Melissa Murray, D-Woonsocket, but would likely be folded into the state budget if passed. It is part of the slate of bills backed by the House progressive bloc and Rhode Island Working Families Party.

Business groups, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, have vehemently opposed an income tax increase for many years and are expected to fight this proposed 3% surcharge.

What would it be used for?

Alzate’s and Murray’s bills don’t specify what the new revenue generated by higher taxes would be used for, but the Revenue for Rhode Islanders coalition has a long wish list, including education, school meals and public transit.

“We could fund housing. We could fund badly needed mental health supports in our schools,” Murray said. “We could fund free school lunch for all, and breakfast. We could fund child care so parents could go back to work. We could help lift children out of poverty and so much more.”

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Rhode Island

2 injured, 1 in custody after stabbing at home near Oakland Beach

Published

4 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

2 injured, 1 in custody after stabbing at home near Oakland Beach

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — A portion of Ottawa Avenue in Warwick was blocked off by crime scene tape Monday afternoon as police investigated a double stabbing.

According to Warwick police, the initial call they received around 3:30 p.m. indicated someone with a knife was trying to break into an Ottawa Avenue home as part of an ongoing domestic incident. As they headed to the scene, police said, additional calls came in letting them know that people had been stabbed.

Capt. Matthew Higgins said officers arrived at the scene and took 29-year-old Caleb Brown into custody immediately. They reportedly found two stabbing victims with critical injuries, one inside an Ottawa Avenue home, while another was found outside in a front yard.

The stabbing victims — a woman who was stabbed in the abdomen and a man who was stabbed in the neck — were both rushed to the hospital to undergo surgery, and both are expected to survive, according to police.

Brown is also being treated at the hospital for minor injuries to his hands, police said.

Police tell 12 News they are still interviewing eyewitnesses, but are not looking for any other suspects, as this was an isolated incident. They say the suspect will be facing felony charges.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.

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Rhode Island

‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ Taglines Are Here, and They’re Iconic

Published

16 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ Taglines Are Here, and They’re Iconic

The Real Housewives of Rhode Island just dropped their official intro—with taglines!
The cast features Kelsey Swanson, Rulla Nehme Pontarell, Alicia Carmody, Ashley Iaconetti, Rosie DiMare, Liz McGraw, and Jo-Ellen Tiberi.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island airs Sundays at 9:00 pm ET, and streams the next day on Peacock.

The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is already my entire personality, and now the show has secured its position as a new franchise favorite with some seriously iconic taglines.

Kelsey Swanson: “Who needs a sugar daddy when my life is this sweet?”

Rulla Nehme Pontarell: “I have a blessed life, and I’m a loyal wife.”

Alicia Carmody: “Why settle for just a slice when you can have the whole damn pie?”

Ashley Iaconetti: “My life is like a rom-com, when I’m not crying I’m laughing.”

Rosie DiMare: “I used to report the news, but now I’m the headline”

Liz McGraw: “In the Ocean State, I dispense the weed and the truth.”

Jo-Ellen Tiberi: “I’m not trying to be mean, I just mean what I say.”

God bless them all.

In case, for some unfathomable reason, you haven’t watched Real Housewives of Rhode Island yet, it’s currently airing on Bravo and is truly amazing. Think: early days of RHONJ levels of incredible. Here’s the show’s log-line if you need more convincing: “Welcome to the Ocean State. It’s America’s smallest, but don’t be fooled—the drama is wicked wild. In a place where everyone knows everyone, nothing is ever truly forgotten. Friendships are built over decades, loyalties are deeply rooted, and secrets are guarded at all costs…until betrayal strikes and the cracks show.”

As Andy Cohen put it at SXSW, “There is not a dud episode in the bunch. You’re going to love it. And I’m not over hyping. We were worried about saturation, like eight Housewives ago. It appears there is a market for new places.”

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Rhode Island

Who is ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ star Kelsey Swanson’s second boyfriend?

Published

1 day ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Who is ‘Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ star Kelsey Swanson’s second boyfriend?

Kelsey Swanson is laying it all out there. In tonight’s episode of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Swanson sits down with the other man in her life, who, unlike her boyfriend, is not afraid to put himself in front of the cameras.

Swanson’s unconventional relationship has stirred up a lot of interest in the rookie reality star. She shared in the first episodes that her much older, unnamed boyfriend of 10 years allows her to live a life of leisure in his New England mansion, even when he is with his other girlfriend in Miami for the first part of the year. Unfortunately for Swanson, the arrangement no longer seems to be serving her as she enters her 30s. While she wants marriage and kids, she said her boyfriend “will never budge” on the latter as he already has children of his own from a previous marriage. So, what else is she to do than find someone who will give her what she wants?

According to Swanson, she and her boyfriend have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” relationship. If he can have a second girlfriend in Miami, then she can have a Rhode Island side piece to keep her company when he’s gone. In tonight’s episode of RHORI, we get to meet said side piece. And honestly? We’re kind of rooting for him!

So, who is Swanson’s other boyfriend? Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Who is Kelsey Swanson’s other boyfriend? Meet Bill L’Europa:

In Episode 3 of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, we are introduced to Kelsey Swanson’s other man, Bill L’Europa. Swanson and L’Europa have known each other since the seventh grade, making him an age-appropriate match for her, who also wants to have kids “eventually.” We don’t know much else about L’Europa, other than the fact that his mom used to pack Swanson’s lunch in high school, and Swanson’s mom refers to him as her “future son-in-law.” Oh, and he drinks his coffee black. While they may seem like a perfect match, Swanson says she’s keeping L’Europa at an “arm’s length” until she can figure out where her other relationship is going. Swanson says that while L’Europa is “very successful,” he is not in the position to offer her the same job-free life that her other boyfriend can give to her. “I don’t have a problem working. I can do it,” she says in her confessional. “It’s just, do I want to? No.”

What are Bill L’Europa’s legal issues?

If you do a quick Google search on Bill L’Europa, a whole slew of legal issues involving a “William L’Europa” will pop up. Just this January, William L’Europa from Cranston, RI, who was previously convicted for federal tax charges on two separate occasions, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay over $1.3 million in restitution to the IRS for his most recent tax evasion case. It should be noted that this man is NOT Swanson’s second boyfriend. While they share the same name and hometown, the man listed in the court docs is 60 years old, whereas Swanson’s side piece is much closer in age to her. However, the William L’Europa with the legal issues is, seemingly, the father of Swanson’s other man, according to this Facebook post.

'Real Housewives of Rhode Island' — Photo: Bravo

Who is Kelsey Swanson’s rich boyfriend?

Swanson’s main boyfriend is allegedly John Caprio, the 50-something-year-old son of the late Judge Frank Caprio, whose courtroom clips went viral before he passed away last summer. Swanson and John have been dating for over 10 years, and he allows her to live in his 16,000 square-foot mansion job-free — even when he’s in Miami with his other girlfriend.

How to watch The Real Housewives of Rhode Island:

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Those looking to watch The Real Housewives of Rhode Island will need access to Bravo and/or Peacock. If you have a cable subscription, you can access the network on the BravoTV website, or stream the show live on platforms like Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV when it airs on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes also become available the next day on Peacock.

Peacock currently offers two subscription types: Premium with ads and Premium Plus ad-free. Peacock Premium costs $10.99/month, while Premium Plus costs $16.99/month.

You can save a bit by subscribing to one of Peacock’s annual plans, which give you 12 months for the price of 10. These cost either $109.99 with ads or $169.99 without ads.

Peacock Premium Plus is also available to subscribe to via Prime Video with a seven-day free trial that you can’t get by subscribing directly on Peacock.

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