[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] HOST: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF RUNNING FROM STATEWIDE OFFICE -->> FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE?

>> ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

I AM NOT GOING TO LIMIT MYSELF.

>> ANY POSITION THAT INTEREST YOU?

>> I LIKE THEM ALL.

>> GOVERNOR RIVERA, SECRETARY RIVERA?

>> I THINK THEY ALL SOUND GOOD.

>> IT IS A BASIC HUMAN THING TO WANT TO IMPROVE OUR CONDITIONS AND ALSO TO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

>> AT WHITE ELECTRIC, A COFFEE SHOP IN PROVIDENCE, GROUP OF WORKERS BANDED TOGETHER TO MAKE A CHANGE.

>> IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A FANTASY OF THE TIME.

HEY, WHAT IF WE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS?

♪ PAMELA: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE BEGIN IN CENTRAL, RHODE ISLAND'S SMALLEST CITY, PERHAPS KNOWN FOR ITS BIG PROBLEMS.

POVERTY, EDUCATION, HOUSING, CRIME AND COVID-19.

IT'S MAYOR, MARIA RIVERA, KNOWS MANY OF THOSE CHALLENGES FIRSTHAND.

SHE GREW UP IN THE CITY AND HAS STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND LIKE MANY RESIDENTS, DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.

DESPITE THOSE OBSTACLES, RIVERA IS IN MANY WAYS TODAY A SUCCESS STORY AND AS MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL REPORTS, SHE WANTS TO TAKE THE CITY WITH HER.

MAYOR RIVERA: I THINK THE BIGGEST FEAR IN CENTRAL FALLS HAS TO BE TRUST.

TRUST FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, THEY DO NOT TRUST THE SYSTEM.

MICHELLE: MARIA RIVERA WORKED TO EARN THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL FALLS.

SHE SAYS SHE DOES IT BY SHOWING UP.

PAMELA: THANK YOU -- MAYOR RIVERA: THANK, YOU'RE WELCOME.

MICHELLE: ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN JANUARY, THE MAYOR WAS HANDING OUT AT HOME COVID-19 TESTS.

THERE IS AN URGENCY TO GET TESTED.

THE CITY OF 22,000 PEOPLE HAS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF COVID-19 CASES IN RHODE ISLAND.

MAYOR RIVERA: YOU'RE WELCOME.

I HAVE TO.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

MANY PEOPLE SAY TO ME WE HAVE NOT SEEN AMERICO HAS BEEN OUT THERE SPEAKING TO THE RESIDENTS FACE-TO-FACE.

-- WE HAVE NOT SEEN A MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN OUT THERE SPEAKING WITH THE RESIDENTS.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE, THIS BLESS HER, DRESS PANTS, THIS IS NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE.

I WANT TO BE OUT THERE HELPING THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

MICHELLE: YOU SAID YOU GET ANXIOUS SITTING BEHIND A DESK ALL DAY.

MAYOR RIVERA: I DO.

I GET REALLY ANXIOUS.

THOSE WHO KNOW ME, I'M NOT IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE I WAS SITTING BEHIND A DESK.

I WAS OUT THERE IN THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY NEW ME ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

THIS IS WHY I AM IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE THEY TRUSTED ME AND PUT ME HERE.

>> DO YOU MARIA RIVERA HAVING BEEN DULY ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OF CENTRAL FALLS.

MICHELLE: IN JANUARY OF 2021, RIVERA WAS SWORN IN AS THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF CENTRAL FALLS.

TWO YEARS AFTER BECOMING THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

MICHELLE: FOR RIVERA, BEING HANDS-ON AT TIMES CALLS FOR DIRECTING TRAFFIC AT A COVID TESTING SITE.

ON OTHER OCCASIONS, SHE IS WEARING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS SHE TALKS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING TO GET TESTED.

ONE OF HER BIGGEST CHALLENGES SO FAR, REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN A DENSELY POPULATED CITY OF TRIPLE-DECKER'S.

MAYOR RIVERA: IT IS NO SECRET THAT CENTRAL FALLS WAS THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITY AND WHY.

YOU HAVE TWO AND THREE FAMILIES LIVING IN AN APARTMENT AND YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO DO SOMETHING THEY CANNOT DO IT YOU NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION.

YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO ISOLATE, THEY COULD NOT ISOLATE.

HOW COULD SOMEONE ISOLATE WHEN THEY HAVE 10 PEOPLE LIVING IN AN APARTMENT?

THIS WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT HAS NOT BEEN OPEN FOR A LONG TIME, 10 YEARS.

MICHELLE: RIVERA ENVISIONS THIS FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING BEING CONVERTED INTO APARTMENTS, ALONG WITH 11 OTHER UNUSED PROPERTIES DID THAT IS A LOT OF VITAL SPACE IN A CITY THAT IS JUST OVER ONE SQUARE MILE.

MAYOR RIVERA: IF I CAN GET THESE 12 PROPERTIES AND CONVERT THEM INTO HOUSING, WE CAN HAVE ABOUT 200 MORE APARTMENTS HERE IN THE CITY.

BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE I NEED TO WIRE THESE PROPERTIES.

-- I NEED TO ACQUIRE THESE PROPERTIES.

IT'S GOING TO COST 4.4 MILLION.

I HAVE A BUDGET OF $19 MILLION.

I CANNOT TAKE OUT $4 MILLION TO ACQUIRE THESE PROPERTIES, WHICH IS WHY I AM HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYONE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO TRY TO GET THE SITE ACQUISITION.

IF THEY CAN HELP US WITH THE GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY MICHELLE: THE CURRENT HOUSING STOCK NEEDS ATTENTION.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY, MORE THAN 95% OF THE HOUSING UNITS WERE BUILT BEFORE LEAD PAINT WAS BANNED IN THE STATE.

RIVERA SAYS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED LEAD POISONING HAS INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC, SINCE CHILDREN SPENT MORE TIME AT HOME.

MAYOR RIVERA: A LOT OF THESE HOUSES WERE BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900S.

LANDLORDS ARE UNAWARE THAT THEY HAVE LEAD IN THEIR HOMES, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND TAKING IT UPON OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTACT THE LANDLORD'S.

BRING THEM INTO HOUSING COURT NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO PENALIZE THEM, BUT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

AND CONNECT THEM TO A RESOURCE TO BRING THEIR PROPERTY UP TO CODE.

MICHELLE: RIVERA HAS HIGH HOPES FOR THE CITY SHE FIRST CALLED HOME WHEN SHE FIRST CALLED HOME WHEN SHE WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

HER PARENTS WORKED AT A PAINTING FACTORY IN CENTRAL FALLS, WHILE SHE WAS GROWING UP.

SHE SAYS SHE NEVER IMAGINED THAT SHE WOULD ONE DAY HOLD THE TOP JOB IN THE CITY.

MAYOR RIVERA: I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHERE YOU GET MARRIED AND YOU DEDICATE YOURSELF TO YOUR HUSBAND.

YOU FIND A JOB AND YOU STAY IN THAT JOB, WHICH IS WHAT I DID.

I GOT MARRIED TO MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, HAD MY TWO KIDS, JUST WORKED FULL-TIME, WENT TO COLLEGE, COME BACK HOME, TAKE CARE OF FAMILY, GO BACK TO WORK THE NEXT DAY.

DO NOT HAVE ANYONE AROUND ME TO TALK TO ABOUT POLITICS OR WHAT WORKING IN GOVERNMENT WAS LIKE.

MICHELLE: THAT CHANGED WHEN RIVERA GOT DIVORCED AND BECAME A SINGLE MOM OF TWO KIDS.

SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN HER COMMUNITY.

MAYOR RIVERA: I AM IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH TWO INCOMES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I AM IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH ONE INCOME.

SO, I WANTED TO DO MORE.

THE FIRST THING I DID WAS JOINED THE BOARD AT THE SCHOOL THAT BOTH OF MY KIDS ATTENDED.

AFTER THAT, I KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF I WANT TO DO MORE.

I WANT TO CONTINUE GETTING ENGAGED, I WANT TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE.

MICHELLE: IN 2014, RIVERA ATTENDED THE RHODE ISLAND LATINO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.

AND SOON AFTER, PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGING HER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME WAS YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

MAYOR RIVERA: YES.

AND WHEN I JOINED THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, THEY ASK YOU WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO OVERCOME?

WRITE IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER, DO NOT TELL ANYBODY AND BY THE END OF THE 10 MONTHS, WE ARE HOPING YOU CAN OVERCOME THAT.

AND MINE WAS PUBLIC SPEAKING.

BUT THE END OF THE 10 MONTHS, I HOSTED THEIR ANNIVERSARY EVENT.

I WAS THE PUBLIC SPEAKER.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

MICHELLE: IT IS A GOOD THING THAT RIVERA, 44 YEARS OLD, NO LONGER FEARS SPEAKING IN PUBLIC.

SHE DOES IT A LOT.

MAYOR RIVERA: I AM FILLED WITH GRATITUDE BUT MY HEART ACHES AS WELL.

MICHELLE: THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB CAN BE DAUNTING, SAYS RIVERA.

BUT SHE SAYS THE SUPPORT OF HER LOVED ONES KIDS ARE GOING, INCLUDING HER FATHER, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2013.

A PHOTO OF THEM HANGS BESIDE HER DESK AND HIS MEMORY FILLS HER WITH EMOTION.

MAYOR RIVERA: HE HAS NOT BEEN PART OF THIS, BUT I HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS THAT ONE PERSON WHO SAID TO ME YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, DO NOT LET ANYONE HOLD YOU BACK.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE I DOUBTED MYSELF AND I QUESTIONED CERTAIN THINGS.

AND I DREAMED OF HIM AND IT IS HIM TELLING ME YOU ARE OK. YOU ARE OK. JUST CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

MICHELLE: FEW THINGS HAVE MADE HER QUESTION HERSELF MORE THAN WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED WHILE SHE WAS MAYOR ELECT THAT SHE WAS BRINGING IN A NEW POLICE CHIEF ON THE FORCE IN PROVIDENCE.

ANTHONY ROBERSON.

MAYOR RIVERA: THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF MY BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

A CHALLENGE THAT MAKES ME EMOTIONAL.

MICHELLE: WHY?

MAYOR RIVERA: BECAUSE IT MADE ME DOUBT MYSELF.

I AM COMING INTO THIS POSITION AND MAKING CHANGES THAT I HAD NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE.

PEOPLE WERE MAD.

THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, SOME OF THE RESIDENCE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH MY DECISION.

I HAD BEEN FOLLOWING COLONEL ROBERTSON'S WORK FOR THREE YEARS AND I REALLY, REALLY ADMIRED THE ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT HE HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE, WHERE HE WORKED.

AND THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO SEE HERE.

I WANTED TO SEE THAT ENGAGEMENT.

I WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS COMFORTABLE.

WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FEELS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE WITH THE RESIDENTS THE CITY.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE DONE.

MICHELLE: THE TRANSITION TO A NEW CHIEF WAS NOT EASY, SAYS RIVERA.

BUT SHE SAYS SHE IS HAPPY WITH HIS LEADERSHIP.

MAYOR RIVERA: YEAH, I HAD TO MEET WITH THE UNION, SPEAK WITH A UNION.

SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT TRUSTING ME AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.

I SAID TO THEM, GIVE ME SIX MONTHS.

IN SIX MONTHS, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

IF THIS IS NOT WORKING IN SIX MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION AND YOU CAN HELP YOU HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND IN SIX MONTHS, AFTER THOSE SIX MONTHS, I COULD TELL YOU THAT I THINK THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTENTS.

MICHELLE: CENTRAL FALLS BECAME THE FIRST COMMITTEE IN THE STATE TO TRAIN ALL OF ITS OFFICERS IN NONVIOLENCE.

RIVERA COUNTS OUT AMONG HER SUCCESSES.

ANOTHER IS HELPING PASS A BOND REFERENDUM TO BUILD A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.

DESPITE HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SHE SAYS THE NEEDS IN THE STATES POOREST CITY REMAIN GREAT.

MAYOR RIVERA: THESE ARE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THIS.

MICHELLE: SHE RECENTLY STOPPED BY BUSINESSES WITH COMMERCE SECRETARY STEFAN PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTE COVID TESTS ALONG WITH INFORMATION ABOUT A SMALL BUSINESS GRANT.

>> SHE HAD A HARD TIME WITH HER BUSINESS.

>> I KNOW.

IT'S BEEN HARD.

MAYOR RIVERA: THE HARDEST CHALLENGE FOR ME AS MAYOR FOR THIS CITY HAS BEEN OUR BUDGET.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEED IN THE CITY, A LOT OF THINGS I WANT TO GET DONE.

A LOT OF THINGS THE RESIDENTS ASKED ME FOR THAT I CANNOT ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE OF OUR BUDGET.

MICHELLE: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS OF NOW?

MAYOR RIVERA: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION FOR SOMEONE WHO DID NOT HAVE AN AMBITION TO BE IN THIS POSITION.

I AM TRULY OVERWHELMED WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME TO ASK ME WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP?

YOU NEED TO STARTING READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP.

MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS LEADING THIS CITY.

AND ACCOMPLISHING WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

MICHELLE: COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE?

MAYOR RIVERA: ANYTHING IS A POSSIBILITY.

I AM NOT GOING TO HOLD MY BACK -- HOLD MYSELF BACK FROM ANYTHING.

MICHELLE: ANY POSITION THAT INTERESTS YOU?

MAYOR RIVERA: I LIKE THEM ALL.

MICHELLE: GOVERNOR RIVERA, TREASURER RIVERA, SECRETARY RIVERA?

MAYOR RIVERA: I THINK THEY ALL SOUND GOOD.

PAMELA: UP NEXT, LONGTIME RHODE ISLAND POLITICIAN DAVID CICILLINE ROOSTED AT UKRAINE BEFORE THE CYBER PURITY ATTACKS.

IN A STORY THAT WE FIRST AIRED LAST NOVEMBER, THE CONGRESSMAN SPOKE ABOUT HIS BEEF WITH BIG TECH.

GIANTS LIKE FACEBOOK, AMAZON AND APPLE.

A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH UNDERTAKING.

HE ALSO LED IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE 45TH PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP.

DAVID: THIS MOB OF WHAT I DESCRIBE AS THOMISTIC TERRORISTS BREACHED THE CAPITAL.

AND YOU ARE WATCHING IT THINKING THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.

PAMELA: ON JANUARY 6, RHODE ISLAND'S DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN DAVID CICILLINE WAS IN HIS WASHINGTON OFFICE, ADVISED TO SHELTER-IN-PLACE AS THE INSURRECTION UNFOLDED AT THE CAPITAL.

DAVID: LATER IN THE DAY, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CAME TO MY OFFICE BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN EVACUATED FROM HIS OFFICE BUILDING AND WE BEGAN TO WORK IN THAT MOMENT ON ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.

>> DONALD TRUMP DID NOT WANTS THIS ATTACK.

HOST: CICILLINE TOOK CENTER STAGE AT DONALD TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

THE CONGRESSMAN, WHO IS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, BECAME THE PROSECUTOR OF A PRESIDENT.

DAVID: THIS WAS A BREATHTAKING DERELICTION OF HIS DUTY, OF HIS VIOLATION OF HIS OATH AS OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

HOST: IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS FACED ON A POWERFUL POLITICIAN.

HE RAN FOR MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE AS AN EARLY CHALLENGER TO THE COLORFUL AND CORRUPT BUDDY CIANCI.

CICILLINE ONE THAT MAYORAL RACE.

DAVID: AND I ANNOUNCE MY CANDIDACY AND EVERYONE SAID YOU ARE CRAZY TO TAKE ON THIS GUY.

HE IS PRETTY RUTHLESS AND HIS REPUTATION FOR THAT WAS VERY WELL KNOWN.

HOST: YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF A FIGHT.

WHERE DOES THAT SPIRIT COME FROM?

DAVID: YOU KNOW, I THINK I HAVE JUST ALWAYS INSTINCTIVELY DONE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.

IF IT IS UNPOPULAR OR PEOPLE ARE BATTLING A POWERFUL FORCE, YOU STILL GET INTO THE FIGHT AND DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN.

MY PARENTS INSTILLED IN ME AT A VERY YOUNG AGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND TO NOT BE AFRAID.

I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL PARENTS.

I HAVE THREE SISTERS AND A BROTHER, SO I AM ONE OF FIVE.

HOST: A MIXED MARRIAGE OF SORTS.

HIS MOTHER IS JEWISH AND HIS FATHER IS ITALIAN-AMERICAN AND CATHOLIC.

WHILE GROWING UP, CICILLINE WITNESSED HIS DAD, A WELL-KNOWN ATTORNEY HIMSELF, DEFEND MANY MOBSTERS, INCLUDING THE HEAD OF NEW ENGLAND'S MOST NOTORIOUS CRIME FAMILY.

DID YOU EVER MEET RAYMOND DELMAS -- ELLIS?

DAVID: ONLY WANTS.

I WAS YOUNG, HE WAS A CLIENT OF MY FATHER.

I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT MY FATHER REPRESENTED PEOPLE ACCUSED OF VERY SERIOUS CRIMES.

THAT WAS HIS JOB.

THE INTEGRITY THAT THAT REQUIRES, OUR SISTER OF JUSTICE -- OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE REQUIRES A PROSECUTOR TO DO HIS OR HER JOB AND A DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO DO HIS OR HER JOB.

OUT OF THAT ADVERSARIAL PROCESS COMES JUSTICE.

MY FATHER USED TO ALWAYS SAY IF YOU JUST LEFT IT UP TO PROSECUTORS AND POLICE TO DECIDE WHO WOULD GO TO JAIL.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, THESE DAYS, CICILLINE IS IN FULL DEFENSE MODE TAKING AIM AT BIG TECH TO ENSURE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GETTING A FAIR SHAKE.

DAVID: THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S HEARING IS TO EXAMINE THE DOMINANCE OF AMAZON, APPLE, FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE.

SIMPLY PUT, THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER.

HOST: AS CHAIR OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY ANTITRUST SUBCOMMITTEE, CICILLINE IS LEADING THE CHARGE TO MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA OR ACCOUNTABLE.

DAVID: THIS WILL BE THE BATTLE OF OUR LIFETIME.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND MONOPOLIES, IT IS THE STORY OF AMERICA.

THE PROBLEM IS OUR ANTITRUST LAWS WERE WRITTEN DURING THE RAILROAD AND OIL MONOPOLIES.

HOST: AFTER CONDUCTING CONGRESS'S FIRST INTENSIVE ANTITRUST INVESTIGATION IN A HALF-CENTURY, CICILLINE HAS INTRODUCED BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, A SUITE OF FIVE BILLS TO CHALLENGE THE WAY DIGITAL MARKET PLATFORMS DO BUSINESS.

CONGRESSMAN, CONSUMERS LOVE ORDERING ON AMAZON.

THEY LOVE POSTING PICTURES OF THEIR PET ON FACEBOOK.

WE ALL GOOGLE EVERY DAY.

THESE HAVE BEEN GAME CANGERS.

AND WHY PEOPLE WANT TO SAY TO YOU WHY ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE THIS?

MY EVERYDAY LIFE?

DAVID: THESE FOUR COMPANIES ESSENTIALLY HAVE MONOPOLY POWER.

AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS CRUSHING INNOVATION.

THEY ARE ACQUIRING COMPETITORS, ENGAGING IN ANTI-COMPETITIVE AND WE HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED COMPETITION AS A MODEL IN OUR ECONOMY, BECAUSE COMPETITION BRINGS MORE CHOICE.

MORE INNOVATION, BETTER QUALITY, LOWER PRICES.

AND THE MONOPOLY POWER OF THESE COMPANIES IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON THIS SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM, JUST COLLECTING ALL OF THIS DATA AND USING IT IN A WAY TO MINUTE DELAYED BEHAVIOR AND TO BENEFIT ADVERTISERS.

HOST: CICILLINE SAYS THE RECENT TESTIMONY OF THE FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER WAS NOT NEWS TO HIS COMMITTEE.

>> FACEBOOKS PRODUCTS HARM CHILDREN, STILL DIVISION AND WEAKEN OUR DEMOCRACY.

HOST: THEIR INVESTIGATION TURNED UP THE SAME INFORMATION.

FACEBOOK HAS A BUSINESS MODEL BUILT ON HIGHEST ENGAGEMENT OF CONSUMERS.

DAVID: AS IT TURNS OUT, DIVISIVE, PROVOCATIVE, UNTRUE, HATEFUL CONTENT HAS THE MOST ENGAGEMENT.

AND THEY MAKE THE MOST MONEY FROM THAT ENGAGEMENT.

SO THEY HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO CURATE WHAT IS ON THEIR PLATFORM, BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING A TON OF MONEY.

THEY ARE GOING TO FIGHT ANY CHANGE TO THAT AND WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT.

JANUARY 6 AS A CONSEQUENT OF THAT.

OF THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION.

PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEFEAT COVID-19'S BECAUSE OF THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION.

HOST: YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY POLITICIANS ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LIKE WHAT PEOPLE PUT OUT THERE ABOUT THEM.

DAVID: EVERYONE IS ALLOWED TO POST ANYTHING THEY WANT, THAT IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BY THE PERSON WHO DOES THE POSTING.

BUT AFTER THAT HAPPENS, FACEBOOK THEN TAKES THAT INFORMATION AND MAKES A COMPLICATED BUSINESS DECISION OF HOW TO APPLY A SET OF ALGORITHMS THAT WILL MAXIMIZE ITS REACH.

WILL AMPLIFY THE MOST DANGEROUS AND TOXIC MATERIAL.

HOST: VERY COMPLICATED THOUGH.

EVEN SOME OF YOUR FELLOW LEGISLATORS, YOUR COLLEAGUES, DO NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND IT.

THEY ARE BACK AT MYSPACE AND YOU ARE TALKING WAY BEYOND THAT TO TIKTOK.

DAVID: ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THAT IS WHY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS A BENEFITED FROM CONGRESSIONAL INACTION.

IT IS COLLOCATED, IT IS A DIFFICULT MARKET TO UNDERSTAND.

THERE ARE COMPLICATED BUSINESS MODELS AND FRANKLY, WE ARE NOW HAVING IRRESPONSIBILITY TO WALK OUR COLLEAGUES THROUGH WHAT WE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION, WHAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES.

HOST: WITH THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS GETTING NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, CICILLINE SAYS THESE DIGITAL PLATFORMS SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD AS OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS.

DAVID: WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF SLANDER AND LIBEL.

SO IF A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHES SOMETHING UNTRUE, WE HAVE A COURT SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES A REMEDY.

THAT DOES NOT EXIST FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

YOU CAN PUT OUT THE MOST UNTRUE THING, THEY CAN AMPLIFY IT, AND YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

HOST: CONGRESS HOPES TO CHANGE THAT THROUGH LEGISLATION, BUT CICILLINE ADMITS WITH MOST AMERICANS GETTING THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, IT WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

THE TITANS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ARE OPPOSING IT WITH ALL THEIR FIREPOWER.

>> IN MANY AREAS, WE ARE BEHIND OUR COMPETITORS.

DAVID: SO YOU LOOK AT WITH THESE PLATFORMS ARE SPENDING.

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, LOBBIES, DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO DEFEAT ANY REFORMS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE GENERATED PROFITS NEVER SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM THIS ECOSYSTEM.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO STOP IT.

SO WE ARE ALSO BATTLING THIS ENORMOUS LOBBYING EFFORT WITH VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED RESOURCES.

HOST: THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE WORLD OF POLITICS HAS ALWAYS FASCINATED CICILLINE.

HE WAS CLASS PRESIDENT AT NARRAGANSETT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND HE HAD AN UNUSUAL HOBBY AS A KID.

DAVID: I USED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS WHEN I WAS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE, SO MY PARENTS WOULD DROP ME OFF AND PICK ME UP.

I UNDERSTOOD AT A YOUNG AGE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, POLITICS WAS THE WAY TO DO IT.

HOST: AT BROWN UNIVERSITY HE FORGED A FRIENDSHIP WITH A FAMOUS POLITICIAN'S SON, JOHN KENNEDY JUNIOR.

TOGETHER, THEY FORMED THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS.

BUT IT IS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE KENNEDY CLAN WHO HOLDS PLACE OF PRIDE IN THE CONGRESSMAN'S PAWTUCKET OFFICE.

CICILLINE SAYS HE PURCHASED THIS ACTUAL CAMPAIGN POSTER OF ROBERT KENNEDY AT THE PROVIDENCE FLEA.

DAVID: HE'S MY HERO.

HOST: WHY?

DAVID: IVO'S BEEN A HUGE ADMIRER OF BOBBY KENNEDY.

-- I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE ADMIRER.

I THINK HE REPRESENTED THAT WHAT YOU SHOULD BE IN PUBLIC LIFE IS A CHAMPION AND FIGHTER FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A VOICE.

HOST: CICILLINE FOUND HIS VOICE AFTER GRADUATING FROM GEORGETOWN LAW.

HE BECAME A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND SERVED TWO TERMS AS MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE.

THE NATION'S FIRST OPENLY GAY ELECTED MAYOR OF A MAJOR CITY.

DAVID: IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHO I WAS AS A GAY MAN.

BECAUSE WE STILL LIVE IN A COUNTRY SADLY WHERE IT IS LEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

I KNOW WHAT I WAS MAYOR, THERE WAS ALWAYS THIS QUESTION, IS HE TOUGH ENOUGH TO BE MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE?

BUT I THINK I ALWAYS BENEFIT WHEN PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE ME.

HOST: TODAY AT AGE 60, THE CONGRESSMAN DOES NOT RULE OUT A RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

DAVID: I HOPE JACK AND SHELDON STAY FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IF THEY EVER DECIDED TO LEAVE AND I WERE STILL IN OFFICE, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE IT HOST: HE ADMITS THAT HIS VERY PUBLIC LIFE HAS CHANGED THE DYNAMIC OF HIS PERSONAL LIFE.

DAVID: IF YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP OR YOU ARE MARRIED OR YOU HAVE A PARTNER AND THEN YOU GET INTO POLITICS, I THINK IT IS FINE BECAUSE PRESIDENTS WHO HAVE BUSY JOBS ARE MARRIED.

I THINK IT IS DIFFICULT THAT ONCE YOU ARE IN POLITICS TO BEGIN A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE YOU SAY TO SOMEONE I HAVE TO GO TO SIX EVENTS TONIGHT, DO YOU WANT TO COME?

SOMETIMES THEY WILL SAY GAFFER A COUPLE OF NIGHTS.

AND THEN THEY LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY YOUR JOB IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN A RELATIONSHIP.

HOST: DO YOU FEEL WISTFUL?

DAVID: YEAH, I THINK WE ARE THE GENERATION THAT JUST MISSED IT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE MY AGE WHO DO FIND A PARTNER AND GET MARRIED, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WOULD EVER GET MARRIED AT THIS STAGE IN MY LIFE.

HOST: WHILE POLITICS REMAINS THE CENTER OF HIS LIFE, IT SEEMS IN MANY WAYS, IT WAS MEANT TO BE.

JUST LISTEN TO WHO'S NEIGHBORS WERE GROWING UP DURING SUMMERS AND NARRAGANSETT.

DAVID: JEFFRIES WAS RIGHT NEXT TO MY GRANDMAS I BELIEVE.

HOST: THAT IS SENATOR JACK REED.

DAVID: I THINK HE WAS JUST A FEW HOUSES AWAY.

HOST: THAT IS FORMER GOVERNOR NOW COMMERCE SECRETARY GINA RAIMONDO.

DAVID: IT WAS ALL THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOST: ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND.

DAVID: ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND.

USED TO LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ON THE EAST SIDE.

ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND.

HOST: FINALLY TONIGHT, WE MEET A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WHO ADDED THE TITLE OF OWNER TO THEIR APRONS.

THEY NOW RUN A SMALL COFFEE SHOP IN PROVIDENCE CALLED WHITE ELECTRIC.

IT IS RHODE ISLAND'S FIRST CO-OP CAFE.

CONTRIBUTING REPORTER BILL BARTHOLOMEW SPENT TIME WITH THE WORKERS TURNED OWNERS TO FIND OUT WHY AND HOW THEY TOOK ON THIS TALL ORDER.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO YOUR CAFE AND YOU GOING TO A STARBUCKS OR SOMETHING, GET A CUP OF COFFEE AND YOU JUST DO NOT REALLY THINK OF THE WORKERS WHO ARE MAKING YOUR COFFEE.

BILL: FOR DANNY CORDOVA, THOSE CHALLENGES CAUSED HIM AND HIS COWORKERS TO START A SMALL REVOLUTION AT HIS WORKPLACE.

THE WHITE ELECTRIC CAFE IN PROVIDENCE.

IT ALL BEGAN IN 2000, WHEN THE CAFE OPENED IN WHAT WAS ONCE A STOREFRONT OF AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE REPAIR BUSINESS.

>> HAD THE WORDS WHITE ELECTRIC PAINTED ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BUILDING.

AND THAT WAS THEIR, I THINK JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR SENSE OF HUMOR.

THEY SAID LET'S CALL THE COFFEE SHOP WHITE ELECTRIC COFFEE BECAUSE IT ALREADY HAD THIS COOL PAINTING ON IT.

BILL: CHLOE IS ONE OF THE LONGEST-SERVING EMPLOYEES.

SHE WAS THERE 17 YEARS AGO WHEN THE SHOP MOVED TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION ON WESTMINSTER STREET.

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING FOR THE COFFEE SHOP, I DO NOT THINK I THOUGHT I WOULD STILL BE WORKING FOR IT MANY, MANY YEARS LATER.

BILL: IN 2020 HOWEVER, THE COMBINED IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE GLOBAL REACTION TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD CAUSED CHLOE AND THE LARGER WHITE ELECTRIC STAFF TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THEIR OWN WORKPLACE.

>> WE HAVE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM US AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH LIKE MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, MOSTLY HISPANIC AND BLACK PEOPLE, ASIANS.

AND WE KIND OF WANTED A WORKPLACE HERE THAT REFLECTS THE RICH DIVERSITY THAT PROVIDENCE HAS ALWAYS HAD.

BILL: SO THE STAFF WROTE A LETTER TO TOM TOOBIN, OWNER OF WHITE ELECTRIC, ASKING HIM TO HIRE MORE DIVERSE WAYS.

>> THE MAIN THING THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AS ALL THE STORES AND SHOPS WERE PUTTING UP BLACK LIVES MATTER SHINE -- SIGNS BUT IT ACTUALLY MEANT SOMETHING AND WOULD BEEN SOMETHING GOING FORWARD.

BILL: THEY ALSO CRITICIZED HIM FOR NOT HIRING CANDIDATES OF COLOR IN THE PAST, ASK HIM TO MAKE THE SHOP WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE AND OFFER HEALTH CARE AND SICK DAYS, SO THAT EMPLOYEES DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED TO COME TO WORK SICK >> WE REALLY WERE NOT SURE HOW ANY PEOPLE WOULD SIGN IT.

AND WE WERE VERY OVERWHELMED THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE SIGNED ON INCLUDING FORMER STAFF.

IT ENDED UP BEING THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED ON TO IT, WHICH WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING TO THINK.

OK, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS.

BILL:BILL: THE OWNER INSTALLED A HANDICAP RAMP, BUT THE OTHER REQUEST WAS MET WITH BACKLASH.

>> THERE WAS SOME RETALIATION.

AND THE SHOP WAS CLOSED AND EVERYONE WHO HAD SIGNED THE LETTER WAS LAID OFF BILL: AND SHE SAYS THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT SIGNED THE LETTER WERE GOING TO BE KEPT ON TO TRAIN REPLACEMENTS.

WHILE THEY FELT THIS WAS UNFAIR, RATHER THAN FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE LABOR DEPARTMENT, CHLOE SAYS THEY DECIDED TO MOVE ON.

>> WE TOOK A LONG VIEW AND WE THOUGHT OK, INSTEAD, LET'S TRY TO GET EVERYONE THEIR JOBS BACK AND ORMA UNION.

BILL: WE REACHED OUT TO TOOBIN FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

HE DID HOWEVER TELL IN MEDIA OUTLET THAT THE BOYS LETTER WAS UNTRUTHFUL -- THE EMPLOYEES LETTER WAS UNTRUTHFUL AND HE DISPUTED HIS CHARACTERIZATION OF HIM.

TOOBIN ALSO SAID THAT HE SHUT DOWN THE COFFEE SHOP AFTER THE LETTER IN JULY 2020 TWO MEET WITH WORKERS AND A MEDIATOR.

IN AUGUST 20 20, THEY REQUESTED A VOLUNTARY RECOGNITION OF THEIR UNION FROM THE CAFE OWNERS.

WHICH WAS GRANTED.

BUT ONE MONTH LATER, THEY RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM OWNER TOM TOOBIN SAYING HE HAD LISTED THE SHOP FOR SALE IN THE EMAIL, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE UNION MEMBERS CONSIDER PURCHASING IT THEMSELVES.

>> IT WAS A FANTASY AT THE TIME, LIKE WHAT IF WE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS?

AND IT WAS JUST LIKE PRETTY MUCH AN IMPOSSIBILITY AT THAT TIME.

BILL: IMPOSSIBILITY TURNED TO REALITY THROUGH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

THE UNION, NOW KNOWN AS CUPS OR COLLABORATIVE UNION OF PROVIDENCE SERVICE WORKERS, WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAPITAL NEEDED TO BUY WHITE ELECTRIC.

BECOMING THE STATE'S FIRST COOPERATIVELY OWNED CAFE AND ONE OF A HANDFUL OF WORKER OWNED RHODE ISLAND BUSINESSES.

TODAY, WHITE ELECTRIC IS BACK TO A FULLY FUNCTIONING CAFE.

DRIVEN BY THE SEVEN ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE CO-OP AND AN EVER-GROWING ROSTER OF PROBATIONARY MEMBERS, WHO AFTER A SIX-MONTH TRIAL.

, WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME OWNERS THEMSELVES.

>> WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN THIS BUSINESS.

WE ALL OBVIOUSLY WANT THE BUSINESS TO BE DOING WELL.

YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT LIKE WE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS AND WE ARE ALL JUST LIKE OK, WE DID IT.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO SIT AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND SING KUMBAYA.

WE DID IT.

IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

EVERYONE STILL NEEDS COFFEE, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

PAMELA: WHY ELECTRIC DOES NOT OFFER HEALTH CARE.

AS FOR THE CO-OP'S PROFITABILITY, THE OWNERS SAY THEY EXPECT TO BREAK EVEN THIS YEAR.

AND THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

PLEASE ARE MEMBERS TO DOWNLOAD RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLIES PODCAST, WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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