Homelessness is a serious problem in Rhode Island. More women, children, and men are homeless here than ever before. And the record number of homeless entering our shelter system will continue to grow as our state tries to recover from a severe economic crisis, record high unemployment and a devastating foreclosure crisis.

This week, the country received its first ever comprehensive plan to end homelessness. In Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent Homelessness the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has laid out a broad reaching plan that calls for increased interagency collaboration and outlines nationally tested best practices and strategies for ending homelessness.

This plan is a positive step in the right direction – it establishes homelessness as a national priority and sets ambitious goals of ending long-term and veteran homelessness in five years, and family homelessness within ten. The plan provides our state with the an opportunity to update and revisit our own Action Plan to End Homelessness and initiate a coordinated effort between state and federal agencies.

The plan validates many of the efforts that homeless and affordable housing advocates in Rhode Island have been working toward – constituent voice in decision making, expanding the supply of permanent supportive housing and the supply of affordable rental housing, engaging key state stakeholders in the work to end homelessness, and retooling the homeless emergency crisis system.

A plan of this scope will only be as good as the time, money and resources that are committed to it. Obama can’t do this alone. Our federal delegation, state legislators, city and town governments and other key supporters will have to work together if this plan is to have its intended impact.

This plan is an ambitious, inspiring first step. Now it is time to fund the plan – both locally and federally - and end the devastating impact of homelessness.

Check out badpaintingsofbarackobama.com.

From The HuffPo:

In the last few days, we’ve seen proposals arise from some in Congress that you may not have read but you’d be very familiar with because you’ve been hearing them for the last 10 years, maybe longer. They’re rooted in the idea that tax cuts alone can solve all our problems; that government doesn’t have a role to play; that half-measures and tinkering are somehow enough; that we can afford to ignore our most fundamental economic challenges — the crushing cost of health care, the inadequate state of so many of our schools, our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
So let me be clear: Those ideas have been tested, and they have failed. They’ve taken us from surpluses to an annual deficit of over a trillion dollars, and they’ve brought our economy to a halt. And that’s precisely what the election we just had was all about. The American people have rendered their judgment. And now is the time to move forward, not back. Now is the time for action.

The other day RISD grad Shepherd Fairey took a break from bathing in piles of money to talk to some folks about his Obama poster:

[BoingBoing, via Hustler of Culture]

Watching footage from the Kennnedy inauguration the other day I was lamenting the absence of top hats in today’s political arena.  But now I don’t have to!

[via Facebook via Art Fag City]

Much is being made of the Lincoln Bible Obama has chosen for the swearing in, and it certainly has historic resonance and all that.  But it is worth mentioning that the Founding Fathers did not think it necessary to use a bible at all.  The Oath of Office is covered by Article II, section 1.8 of the Constitution which states,

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

You don’t have to ’swear’ you can just ‘affirm’.  The final hurdle. . . an atheist in the White House.  Obama gives hope to my people.

And so should you. Share the inauguration festivities with like-minded people at, where else, Blue State Coffee on Thayer Street.  Assuming the technology cooperates, they will project the broadcast on a big screen and there will be great jubilation, and scones.  (In related news — BSC is opening a second location, different name, in the newly renovated Brown Bookstore just down the street.  The College Hill Cafe should be open on Wednesday.)

BSC, 300 Thayer Street, 383.8393

[Update — Tuesday morning: Matt Lauer has just reported that BO does not drink coffee. However, I'm sure he understands and supports the idea of coffee. Jeez Louise, my intern is a lazy idiot.]

Look who’s on Page Two of the Providence Journal! That’s our own Eric Smith (in a different picture we can’t use.) Rick Massimo has a piece about the intersection of music, politics, and the Dose this past year. DJs spin every night in the Tap Room of Local 121, and on Tuesdays it’s always the Cold War DJs featuring Eric, Pete Lima, and Kevin F. Leavitt. Tuesday nights have been significant this past year.

“I don’t know what it is about Tuesdays and politics,” Smith says, but in addition to Election Night, the Rhode Island primary and some of the bigger debates of the primary and general-election seasons happened on Tuesdays.

And now Smith, who also is a cofounder of the Web site Providence Daily Dose, and his co-DJ, Pete Lima, are anchoring the Inauguration Jubilation at 121, a day-long celebration of Barack Obama’s ascent to the presidency. . .

more »

No really, I did.  Last night I dreamt that I was hanging out with Barack and Michelle, and they were my friends, and they really liked me. What a way to start the new year.  Only 20 more days and we can start to breathe again.  In the meantime — let the merchandizing begin. The New York Times reports on the various merch sites that have arisen — the results are mixed. I gotta think the Onesie (from the Official Inaugural Store) will be popular at $15.  The basketball jersey is cool, but a little steep at $130.  In an unrelated note: there were reports that while vacationing in Hawaii, the Obama family played Scrabble.  At last, Scrabblers in the White House.

More shirts.  MoveOn.org has a new line of Obama T-shirts for sale. For a donation of $12 or more ($14 for the long-sleeved) you can be wearing one of these on Inauguration Day. (They can not be delivered for the holidays.)  If I may speak to girls for a moment, I got their earlier election T-shirt and I can tell you, it’s pretty sweet. These are American Apparel shirts, and yes I know that that guy is a creep, but the fact of the matter is he really knows how to cut a shirt. This one fits real nice — the sleeves are cut right, and the artwork and printing is good. Guys, you are on your own. These are sold as unisex, so I don’t know what to tell you. I’ll bet these are sold mostly to chicks anyway.

Here’s a pdf of Obama’s 60-some point questionnaire for potential appointments.

Facebook pages, potentially embarrassing emails, any ‘controversial’ issues you’ve worked on, even private diaries.  Check-ups, gun ownership, and, yes — ‘associations’ that could be used to ‘impugn your character’ are all on the table…

Least hot look for a guy, ever.  The New York Times reports that in a recent interview on MTV, Barack Obama (a man who knows a thing or two about style) dismissed ‘anti-baggy pants’ ordinances as a waste of time (agreed) but added,

…brothers should pull up their pants… some people might not want to see your underwear… I’m one of them.

Do I hear an amen? (And this goes for the white “brothers” hanging at the food court as well.)

I’m a day or two behind this AP article in which the Rev. Jay Scott Newman, a South Carolina Roman Catholic priest, has asked parishioners to refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Hussein Obama because of the Democratic president-elect’s pro-choice stance.

In fact, the good reverend declared that supporting Obama “constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil.”

While the AP reported that 54% of Catholics in exit polls voted for Obama (a Protestant) over McCain, Rev. Newman’s parishioner Ted Kelly clearly wasn’t among them. “I don’t understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who’s a pro-abortion candidate,” Mr. Kelly was quoted as saying. “You’re talking about the murder of innocent beings.” I’m curious, though, if Ted has ever heard of, say, Iraq.