Delight yourself with an night out with our area restaurants - participate in a raffle and win BIG!
FIRST PRIZE: $350 CASH!
SECOND PRIZE: Win a Discover Newport Getaway Package which includes a two-night stay at one of the many hotels, inns, or B&B's in Newport's classic coast destination.   
THIRD PRIZE:  Win a KEEL Cooler filled with goodies! 
Win lots of raffle prizes!
1.  Purchase your ticket for $20 at the Chamber www.eastbaychamberri.org or by calling the office 401-245-0750, Each ticket holder will receive a free dessert or other offering with the purchase of a meal from all participating restaurants.
2.  Visit at least 4 of the restaurants during  the Month of October  
3.  Have your ticket validated at each participating restaurant after your meal.
4.  Return your validated ticket booklet to the Chamber office to be entered into our fabulous Raffle!
5.  Every restaurant validation over the 4 you dine at, will get you another raffle ticket! 

Participating Restaurants will be offering a special KEEL Vodka Cocktail! 
Ask for the Chamber Cocktail!
Participating Restaurants  (more will be added)
Barrington:
Spaghetti Lane, 8 Anoka Ave, Barrington, RI 02806 www.spaghettilane.com
Leon's Cate and Catering, 230 Waseca Ave, Barrington, RI 02806 www.leonscafecatering.com

Warren:
 Uptown Food & Spirits, 437 Main St, Warren, RI 02885 www.uptownfoodandspirits.com
Rhody Roots, 511 Main St, Warren, RI 02885 www.rhodyroots.com
Hometown Tavern, 623 Matacom Ave., Warren RI 02885  https://www.hometowntavernri.com/
The Revival Craft Kitchen and Bar, 50 Miller St, Warren, RI 02885 https://therevivalcraftkitchenandbar.com/   
Bevvies Juice Bar, 436 Main St., Warren RI  https://bevviesbar.square.site/s/order
Bristol:
BaBa Sushi, 205 Thames St. Bristol, RI 02809 https://babasushi.com/
The Casual Inn Restaurant, 170 Franklin St, Bristol, RI 02809  https://thecasualinnrestaurant.com/
The Lobster Pot, 119 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809  www.lobsterpotri.com
Portside Tavern,  444 Thames St, Bristol, RI 02809 www.portsidetavern.com
The Beach House, 805 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809 www.thebeachhouseri.com
Roberto's Restaurant, 450 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809  https://robertosbristol.com/
Rivers & Rhodes, 382 Thames Street  Bristol, RI 02809 www.riversandrhodesri.com 
SS Dion Restaurant, 520 Thames St., Bristol, RI 02809
www.ssdion.com
Seekonk:
KC's Burger Bar, 1379 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, MA 02714 www.kcsburgerbar.com

Media Sponsor: i3 Broadband
Sponsored by:  BANKFIVE
 Keel Vodka, Parker Mills, Navagant Credit Union, Farmer & First, CPA's, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, The Bay
Call the Chamber office at 245-0750 for more info, or email [email protected]
Event Item NameExpiresPricingTicket / 1 per personNov 01, 2020$20.00

$500 SponsorshipNov 01, 2020$500.00
$300 SponsorshipNov 01, 2020$300.00
$100 SponsorshipNov 01, 2020$100.00

Sponsorsi3 Broadband

​At the State House
 
No hearings have been scheduled for this week.  The staff at the State House is continuing to work virtually due to safety concerns.
 
September Primary
 
The September primary is approaching quickly – September 8th.  If you have not requested a mail ballot, you still have two options to vote.  For many state representatives and state senators, the primary is THE election because they have no opponent in November.  That makes this primary extremely important. 
 
If you wish to vote in person on September 8th, you can find your voting location at https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/PollingPlaces?ActiveFlag=2
 
Registered voters also have the option to vote early in-person between August 19th and September 8th.  In the 20 days leading up to Election Day, you can vote in person at your city or town hall during their regular business hours. This is a great option if you are unable to vote at your usual polling place on Election Day, or if you have run out of time to request a mail ballot.  Simply go to your local board of canvassers in your city/town  https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Elections/LocalBoards, present a valid photo ID, fill out the ballot that is given to you and then place it into the voting machine – Done!

At the State House
 
Last Week
 
Last week the House Finance Committee was provided a briefing on Governor Raimondo’s request for a major increase in bond authorization, as well as a couple new bills introduced by the House Speaker and House Finance Chairman.  Should the General Assembly include any or all bond requests in the FY2021 budget, those requests would then be placed on the ballot for consideration by Rhode Island voters.
 
The Governor’s request to amend Article 5 - Capital Bonding includes the following:
 
1.  Additional $5 million for recreational facility improvements, and I-195 infrastructure
 
2.  Additional $223 million for housing and infrastructure of which $40 million would go to community development housing projects, $107 million for health laboratories, $35 million for off-shore wind, and industrial land preparation projects, $11 million for Quonset dredging of Pier II, and a new $30 million bond for transportation infrastructure to make up for the decrease in gas tax revenue
 
Topic                                           Original Request            New Article              Change

Higher Education                         $117.3 million               $117.3 million              $0
Environment & Recreation          $  64.0 million               $  69.0 million             $5 mill
Housing & Infrastructure             $  87.5 million               $310.5 million            $223.0 mill
 
Total Bond Request                     $268.8 million               $496.8 million            $228.0 mill

 
Treasurer Magaziner, provided testimony through his staff suggesting the State could withstand an additional $200 million in bonding in order to assist in the economic rebuilding of the Rhode Island as a result of the COVID pandemic.  In June, the Treasurer’s office acknowledged that the original bond proposal exceeded 1 of 4 recommended limits used when evaluating debt proposals, but also stated that limits can be exceeded in times unforeseen events.
 
The Environment & Recreation bond shifts $1 million from the RICAP (a state pay–as-you-go fund) for beaches, parks and campgrounds to a bond and also shifts $4 million for the I-195 Park to a bond.
 
The House Finance staff provided background information in the area of housing bonds.  In 2006, RI voters approved a $50 million housing bond that was ultimately used to fund 1,077 rental units and 149 ownership units for a total of 1,226 units.  In 2012, the passage of a $25 million bond brought 726 rental units and 22 ownership units into the marketplace.  In 2016, the voters approved a $40 million bond that allowed 1,078 rental units and 42 ownership units to be created.  The new proposal calls for a $65 million bond of which $45 million would be used for the Affordable Housing program for purchase and rehab of housing units, pre-development expenses, home repairs and in-law apartments.  Twenty million dollars of the bond would be used form community revitalization programs.
 
For a more thorough look at what is in the proposal, the House fiscal staff review can be accessed at:  http://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/comdoc/House%20Finance/07-29-2020%20%20July%2029%20Debt%20and%20TANS.pdf  The Department of Health’s presentation on the medical laboratory can be viewed at:  http://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/comdoc/House%20Finance/07-29-2020%20%20RIDOH%20COE%20for%20Laboratory_7.29.pdf
And Secretary Pryor’s presentation on the economic development portion of the bond request can be accessed at:  http://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/comdoc/House%20Finance/07-29-2020%20%20Commerce%20RI%20House%20Finance%20Bond%20Hearing_7.29.2020.pdf
 
Two bills introduced last week were held by the House Finance Committee for further study.  Under current law, the General Assembly may only spend 97% of general revenues.  Three percent of the revenues go into the State’s Rainy Day Fund.  If the Rainy Day Fund exceeds 5% of revenues, then the amount over the 5% threshold goes into the State’s capital account.  In 2006, RI voters changed the State Constitution to require the capital account (RICAP) to be used for projects only – not to pay down State debt.
 
H.8119 asks voters to increase the amount sent each year to the Rainy Day Fund to 5% of general revenues, meaning the State could only “spend” 95% of the estimated general revenue instead of 97%.  The bill also increases the threshold amount from 5% to 10%, meaning more money could build up in the Rainy Day Fund before it was shifted to the capital account to be spent on pay-as-you-go projects.
 
H.8120 calls for the same final result as H.8119, but spaces the fiscal changes over a ten year period.  The amount of money deposited into the Rainy Day Fund would increase by .2% increments over the 10 years to get to 95%; and the increase in the amount held in the Rainy Day Fund before transferring it to the capital fund would increase in .5% increments.
 
 
The following new bills were filed last week:
 
House Resolution No. 8119   Mattiello, Abney, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (LIMITATIONS ON STATE SPENDING) (This joint resolution proposes to submit to the electors a proposition to amend the constitution by increasing funding of the budget reserve account, also known as the "Rainy Day Fund", and limiting state spending.)
 
House Bill No. 8120  Mattiello, Abney, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- STATE BUDGET RESERVE AND CASH STABILIZATION ACCOUNT (This act would increase funding of the budget reserve account, also known as the "Rainy Day Fund," and would limit state spending.)