>> WE HAVE INCREASED PATIENT LOAD, WE HAVE NURSES SHORTAGES, IT HAS BEEN TOUGH.

WE JUST WANT NURSES OUT THERE TO KNOW IT IS A NICE PLACE TO WORK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT.

IF THEY WANT TO JOIN, WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM.

>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, >> YOU LOADED UP THE NEEDLE FOR ME AND INJECTED ME AND WITHIN SECONDS I HAD COMPLETELY BLACKED OUT.

>> HE OPIOID CRISIS IS THE WORST OF HIS EVER BEEN IN RHODE ISLAND.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS A SUPERVISED DRUG INJECTION SITES CAN HELP SAVE LIVES.

CRITICS ARGUE IT WILL ENABLE DRUG USERS.

>> THE WORST THING WE CAN DO FOR THESE ADDICTS IS GIVE THEM A SAFE PLACE TO SHOOT UP.

>> TO ME YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS ON HEARING THE TERM.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IS.

>> GOOD EVENING.

THINK GUST WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

MICHELLE: WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A EPIDEMIC THAT IS SURGING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

FATAL DRUG OVERDOSES.

IT IS CLAIMING MORE LIVES THAN EVER BEFORE.

UNFORTUNATELY IN RHODE ISLAND WE ARE KEEPING PACE WITH THE DEADLY STATISTIC.

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE OF OVERDOSES.

FUELING THE SPIKE IS A FATAL COMBINATION OF COVID AND FENTANYL.

A SYNTHETIC OPIOID USED TREAT PATIENTS WITH SEVERE PAIN.

IT'S ABOUT 100 TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.

RHODE ISLAND IS THE FIRST STATE IN THE CONTRY TO LEGALIZE A PROGRAM AIMED AT PREVENTING OVERDOSE DEATHS.

PROPONENTS SAY IT SAVES LIVES.

CRITICS CLAIM IT WILL MAKE AN ALREADY BIG PROBLEM WORSE.

IT IS A SCENE THAT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON IN PROVIDENCE AND AROUND RHODE ISLAND.

>> IT IS A CONFIRMED OVERDOSE.

WE'VE GIVEN THEM, BUT HE STILL GOES INTO UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

>> WE HAVE REDUCED OVERDOSE -- WE HAVE OPIOID PERCEPTIONS AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO RECOVERY PROGRAMS.

IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH.

>> HE SAYS WE STILL NEED TO DO MORE TO TACKLE THE STATE OPIOID CRISIS.

HE IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AT BROWN UNIVERSITY.

HE SAYS THE PANDEMIC CONTRIBUTED TO A SPIKE IN OVERDOSES.

>> PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT ARE EXPANDING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

THEY HAVE VERY HIGH RATES OF OVERDOSE AND PEOPLE WITH ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR JOB LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE AT VERY HIGH RISK OF RETURNING TO SUBSTANCE USE OR INCREASING OVERDOSE RISK.

MICHELLE: MARSHALL BELIEVES THAT SUPERVISED DRUG INJECTION SITES ALSO KNOWN AS HARM REDUCTION CENTERS CAN HELP CURB OVERDOSES.

A RHODE ISLAND LAW TOOK IN THE FLESH TOOK EFFECT IN MARCH ALLOWS US FACILITIES TO OPERATE IN THE STATE DURING A TWO-YEAR PRIVATE PROGRAM -- PILOT PROGRAM.

>> TYPICALLY BE CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES A BE FUNDED PRIVATELY.

BY DONATIONS OR BY OTHERS OR SOURCES BEEN THIS FAR AS I AM AWARE, THERE ARE NO PLANS TO PROVIDE STATE OR LOCAL DOLLARS TO OPERATE THIS FACILITIES.

>> WHEN SOMEBODY FIRST ENTERS, THEY WILL, THIS REGISTRATION DESK.

MICHELLE: NO SITES HAVE OPENED IN THE RHODE ISLAND YET.

SHE GAVE US A TOUR OF A MOCK HARM REDUCTION CENTER AT THE ORGANIZATIONS DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE OFFICE.

>> THEY WILL WRITE IN THEIR INITIALS OR CLIENT ID AND WHAT SUBSTANCE AND METHOD THEY WILL BE USING.

IT IS ALL ANONYMOUS.

>> PEOPLE WILL BRING THEIR OWN DRUGS TO THE CLINIC AND USE THEM UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF TRAINED STAFF EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION FOR OVERDOSE AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR GETTING CLEAN.

THESE ARE ALL RHODE ISLAND-BASED RESOURCES AROUND RECOVERY, TREATMENT, SAFE STREETS, HOUSING, FOOD, SHELTER.

>> THERE MORE THAN 120 HARM REDUCTION CENTERS AROUND THE WORLD.

PROFESSOR MARSHALL HAS SPENT NEARLY TWO DECADES STUDYING THE IMPACT.

>> THERE HAS NEVER BEEN IN OVERDOSE DEATH AT ANY HARM REDUCTION CENTER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

OVERDOSES CAN BE EFFECTIVELY MANAGED ON SITE.

>> MANY OVERDOSES ARE BEING TREATED AT HOSPITALS.

>> PATIENTS EXPERIENCE IN OVERDOSE, ACCOUNT FOR 1.9 BILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL HOSPITAL COSTS NATIONWIDE.

ACCORDING TO THE PAIRED UP -- CHARITABLE TRUST.

NOT ONLY WITH HARM REDUCTION CENTERS REDUCE THOSE HEALTH CARE COSTS, BUT MARSHALL SAID THEY WOULD ALSO HELP GET USERS INTO TREATMENT.

HE POINTS TO THE FIRST SUPERVISED DRUG INJECTION SITE TO OPEN IN CANADA BACK IN 2003.

>> AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS OF OPERATION, MORE THAN 40% OF PEOPLE USING THE SITE HAD ENTERED INTO SOME FORM OF TREATMENT THAT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE REFERRALS AND THOSE PATHWAYS THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY IN THE SITE ITSELF.

ONCE A PERSON'S TURN HAS BEEN CALLED, THEY COME OVER HERE TO A TABLE TO GATHER SUPPLIES.

WE GIVE OUT THE SUPPLIES.

ALSO THAT YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOUR USE IS SAFE AND CLEAN.

>> THEY KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE IN THE THROES OF ADDICTION.

HE HAS OVERDOSED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES.

>> YOU LOADED UP THE NEEDLE FOR ME AND INJECTED ME AND WITHIN SECONDS I HAD COMPLETELY BLACKED OUT.

>> HE HAS WALKED THE ROAD FROM OVERDOSE TO RECOVERY.

AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PROJECT WEBER AND PROVIDENCE, HE HELPS MEN WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN SEX WORK, OFTENTIMES TO PAY FOR DRUGS.

IT IS A LIFE THAT HE ONCE LIVED.

HE SAID THE LAST TIME HE USED DRUGS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HE OVERDOSE.

>> I WAS GETTING HIGH WITH A FRIEND OF MINE AND WE WERE IN HIS APARTMENT.

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS CLEAN, DIRECTING THE PROJECT WEBER PROGRAM, I RELAPSE.

I WOKE UP TWO PARAMEDICS AROUND ME AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED.

THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT I JUST OVERDOSED.

>> IN 2020, 3 AND FOUR FATAL OVERDOSES IN RHODE ISLAND INVOLVED INTO NO.

PROPONENTS OF EJECTION -- INJECTION SITE SAID THAT USERS ABILITY TEST THEIR SUBSTANCES FOR FENTANYL AT THOSE FACILITIES.

>> IF HARM REDUCTION CENTERS HAD EXISTED WHEN YOU WERE USING WOULD YOU HAVE GONE TO ONE?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION I WOULD USE A HONEST ANSWER.

IF IT WAS A FACILITY THAT WAS RUN BY PEERS AND I TRUSTED THOSE PEERS, THEN I THINK THE CHANCES OF ME GOING IN A FACILITY LIKE THAT WOULD BE PRETTY HIGH.

>> BUT NOT EVERYONE IS EMBRACING THE CONCEPT OF REGULATED INJECTION SITES.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID PLACE IS AMONG THE LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THEM.

>> THE WORST THING WE COULD DO FOR THESE ADDICTS IS GIVEN A WARM SAFE PLACE TO SHOOT UP.

>> HE REPRESENTS PARTS OF GLOUCESTER AND BLURB -- MIRABELLE.

HE KNOWS PEOPLE WHO DIED OF DRUG OVERDOSE.

HE DOES NOT THINK THAT HARM REDUCTION CENTERS ARE THE ANSWER TO THE DRUG CRISIS.

>> IT IS ME SAYING WE ARE GOING ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY.

>> THE CONVERSATION SHOULD FOCUS ON DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS MD STIGMATIZING ADDICTION.

REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS.

>> THE ONLY WAY YOU GET THEM IS WHEN THEY ARE AT ROCK BOTTOM.

WHETHER THEY THEMSELVES OR THEIR FRIENDS OF EXPANSE OVERDOSE.

>> THAT ROCK-BOTTOM COULD BE DEATH FOR SOME PEOPLE.

>> YES, IT COULD BE.

>> WHILE FEDERAL LAW MAY SIT ILLEGAL TO OPEN A PLACE FOR THE PURPOSE OF USING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, PROFESSOR MARSHALL SAYS HE IS NOT WEIGHED ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CLOSING FUTURE FACILITIES AND RHODE ISLAND.

HE NOTES THAT THE FIRST TO AUTHORIZE DRUG INJECTION SITES IN THE COUNTRY OPENED LAST NOVEMBER IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SUPPORTING HARM REDUCTION GENERALLY INCLUDING SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS AND HAVE NOT MADE A FORMAL STANCE ON HARM REDUCTION CENTERS YET.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO INTERFERE WITH FACILITIES THAT WILL BE LEGAL HERE AND RHODE ISLAND UNDER OUR STATE LAW.

>> UNDER FEDERAL LAW IT WOULD STILL BE ILLEGAL.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WE HAVE OTHER EXAMPLES WERE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS CONFLICT.

IN -- IF CLASSIC EXAMPLE WOULD BE CANADA SPIN.

>> DEFEND BODIES IN THE ALLEYS AND ABANDONED HOUSES.

PEOPLE DON'T >> LOSE ANY SLEEP.

>> HE WORKS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BATTLED IT ADDICTION.

HE BELIEVES INJECTION SITES WILL REDUCE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ALONE.

>> WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY?

WE ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE.

WE ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT DIE IN KENNEDY PLAZA WHERE THEY MIGHT DIE BEHIND THE STORE.

>> HE SPENT 30 YEARS IN A COLORADO PRISON FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER THAT HE SAYS CENTERED AROUND DRUGS.

>> THE REASON I AM SITTING HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WAS GUILTY OF THE CRIME.

ONCE I ACCEPTED THAT AND I EXCEPTED THE FACT THAT I WAS GUILTY, EXCEPT THE FACT THAT MY BEHAVIOR WHILE I WAS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT REGARDLESS OF THE TIME.

THAT I WAS IN THERE, I TOOK RESPONSIBILITY.

ONCE I TOOK RESPONSIBILITY, MY LIFE CHANGED.

>> HE BELIEVES SAFE INJECTION SITES WILL BE A LIFELINE FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION.

>> MOST PEOPLE AND I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF NOW, HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, THE PRIMARY CAUSE WAS A BROKEN HEART.

A BROKEN FAMILY.

WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS, MOST OF THE TIME YOU ARE GOING TO FALL OFF.

>> PROFESSOR MARSHALL SAYS THAT STUDIES SHOW THAT CRIME DOES NOT INCREASE IN NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING CRIME HARM REDUCTION CENTERS.

FOR THEY CAN OPEN IN A COMMUNITY, THE CITY OR TOWN COUNCIL NEEDS TO APPROVE IT.

SO FAR, NO HARM REDUCTION CENTER APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.

UP NEXT, IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLANDERS CAN AGREE ON, IT IS THAT THE REASON WEATHER CAN FLUCTUATE BETWEEN IDYLLIC CONDITIONS AND EXTREME STORMS.

A MOMENTS NOTICE.

FOR 116-YEAR-OLD, NORTH KINGSTOWN STUDENT, PREDICTING REGIONAL WEATHER HAS LONG BEEN A SOURCE OF INTEREST.

IN RECENT YEARS, HE HAS DEVELOPED A LEGION OF FOLLOWERS BY FORECASTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AS CAN TRIPPING REPORTER BOTH -- LESS NOTICE LAST SEPTEMBER, THE AMATEUR WEATHERMAN STANDS MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES HE OVERCOMES TO SHARE WHAT IS BEHIND THE WEATHER.

>> SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN FOURTH GRADE, WHEN MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE THE NEWS ON AT NIGHT AND I ALWAYS ENJOYED THE NEWSCAST AS A WHOLE AND HEARING ABOUT THE BREAKING STORIES AND LEARNING WHAT THE DIFFERENT REPORTERS RECOVERING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, BUT I PARTICULARLY ENJOYED THAT THREE OR FOUR MINUTES EACH HALF-HOUR WHERE THE METEOROLOGIST CAME ON AND PROVIDED THE WEATHER FORECAST, I FEEL LIKE IT IS A GREAT MIX OF MATH AND SCIENCES WHICH ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY.

BUT ALSO, THE BROADCASTING IN THE PERFORMANCE ASPECT OF IT.

>> FOR RYAN, THE WEATHER HAS BEEN A LONG SOURCE OF FASCINATION.

SO MUCH SO, THE 15-YEAR-OLD NORTH KINGSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HAS BUILT HIS OWN PLATFORM FORECASTING SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WEATHER ON FACEBOOK.

>> THE NEXT GENERATION IS VERY SOCIAL MEDIA ORIENTED AND I THINK I HAVE FILLED A VOID AND I THINK I CAN SORT OF TRANSFER THAT INTO MORE TRADITIONAL STYLES OR EVEN UNTRADITIONAL BY BEING A BROADCAST METEOROLOGIST ON TV AT SOME POINT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHECKING OUT THIS VIDEO.

>> AT -- IN THE MEANTIME, HE HAS SET UP A DEDICATED AUDIENCE WITH HIS FACEBOOK WHETHER HP HAD SOMETHING HE SAYS COMES FROM FORMULATING HIS FORECAST BY ANALYZING WEATHER INFORMATION NOT ONLY IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND, BUT ALSO IN OTHER NEIGHBORING MARKETS.

>> I IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AND I AM MORE FOCUSED ON THE END PRODUCT AND REALLY BRINGING THE INFORMATION TO MORE PEOPLE.

COMMUNICATING IT.

>> THAT PASSION FOR BRINGING THE INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE IS ESPECIALLY COMPELLING BECAUSE THIS 15-YEAR-OLD BUDDING METEOROLOGIST WAS BORN LEGALLY BLIND.

>> I HAVE HAD SUPPORT IN PLACE THROUGH ALL OF MY SCHOOL YEARS AND THOSE CAN OF COURSE CHANGE AND VARY BASED ON HOW I AM DOING AND HOW MY VISION CHANGES WHICH HAS OF COURSE DECREASED.

>> HE CREDITS NORTH KINGSTOWN WITH CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH HE CAN EXPLORE HIS PASSION FOR WEATHER AND BROADCASTING REGARDLESS OF HIS DISABILITY.

HE SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL FOR HIS FAMILY SUPPORT AS WELL AS NORTH KINGSTOWN'S SUPERINTENDENT DR. PHILIP RJ.

>> HE IS SO FOCUSED ON THE ARTS AND ANYBODY'S INTERESTS, HE WILL EMBRACE.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ASKED -- ATHLETICS OR DRAMA.

IT CAN BE REALLY ANYTHING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM AND I THINK THAT IS WHY NORTH KINGSTOWN LEAVES THE STATE IN OUR SCHOOLS IN GENERAL.

>> HE RECOGNIZES HE IS DIFFERENT FROM HIS CLASSMATES AND HE WELCOMES HER CURIOSITY.

>> I AM VERY OPEN ABOUT IF YOU HAVE ANY STUPID QUESTIONS.

I HAVE HAD SOME VERY INTERESTING ONES, BUT I WILL ANSWER ANY OF THEM.

I EMBRACE IT AND I THINK IT IS AWESOME THE KIDS ARE CURIOUS AND THEY WANT TO LEARN AND WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BLINDNESS AND WHAT COMES WITH IT.

I HAVE GROWN, OF COURSE, IN MANY AREAS, SUCH AS SELF ADVOCACY AND BEING AN INDEPENDENT TRAVELER AND DOING MORE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A PROCESS, OF COURSE, BUT SO FAR SO GOOD.

>> AND 2020 HE WANTS TO PODCAST SERIES CALLED HEIN THE WEATHER FORECAST.

>> I AM YOUR HOST AND TODAY WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

>> FOCUSES ON INTERVIEWING NEWS PERSONALITIES METEOROLOGIST.

>> I WAS LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE'S PODCASTS AND WANTED A NEW WAY TO REACH THE AUDIENCE THAT WASN'T JUST WRITING ON A POST OR WHATEVER.

IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO CONVEY INFORMATION BUT I WANTED SOMETHING MORE IN THE SORT OF AN EXTENSION TO THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE THAN JUST A DAY-TO-DAY FORECAST.

I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THEIR STORIES AT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY WATCH PEOPLE DO THE FORECAST EVERY NIGHT FOR A FEW MINUTES, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM OR WHAT COLLEGE THEY WENT TO.

HOW THEY GOT INTO THE WEATHER WORLD IF YOU WILL.

>> EARLIER THIS WILL CASHIER, THE RHODE ISLAND BARGAIN OF EDUCATION WAS PROPOSING A CASH CHANGE AND AWAY THE BLIND SOON TO BE EDUCATED.

SEEKING TO PRIVATIZE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS LIKE RYAN HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN.

REPLACING IT WITH A PROGRAM FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS-BASED PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.

>> IT WAS THE FEAR OF LOSING THE PROFESSIONALS THAT I HAD WORKED WITH FOR YEARS.

I HAVE KNOWN THEM SINCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

JUST TO HAVE THIS PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND MESSAGES COME IN AND COMPLETELY CHANGE EVERYTHING WAS SOMETHING I COULD NOT IMAGINE.

>> HE BEGAN LEAVING RALLIES OUTSIDE OF THE STATEHOUSE.

>> IT WASN'T A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.

IT WAS A LOT OF TESTIFYING, NOT TESTIFYING, BUT MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.

>> SEVERAL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS WILL NOT BE LOSING HER TEACHERS AFTER ALL.

>> THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY ULTIMATELY DECIDED NOT TO PRIVATIZE EDUCATION FOR BLIND STUDENTS.

>> I AM SO EXCITED THAT IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.

>> FOR RYAN, THE NEXT STEPS IN HIS JOURNEY ARE DECIDING WHERE HE WANTS TO TAKE HIS >> PASSION AND SKILL IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD.

>> I THINK BROADCAST METEOROLOGY IS DEFINITELY A GOOD POSSIBILITY, HOWEVER I AM KEEPING IT OPEN TO ALL AREAS OF WEATHER, JOURNALISM, CAN'T NECESSARILY RULE OUT POLITICS, BUT THERE IS NO A WAY TO COMBINE THE MALL AND CLIMATE CHANGE OVERLAPS.

METEOROLOGY COVERS JOURNALISM AND WEATHER.

I THINK BROADCAST METEOROLOGY AT THIS POINT IS LIKELY, BUT I AM KEEPING IT OPEN ENDED JUST BECAUSE I HAVE MANY OTHER PASSIONS.

>> OUR THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW.

>> RYAN MADE HISTORY IN FEBRUARY.

>> NEXT, CAME A LITTLE LATE THIS YEAR, BUT BASEBALL IS NOW BACK.

MAJOR-LEAGUE AND MINOR TEAM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE OPENING THEIR BALLPARKS FOR REGULAR SEASON PLAY.

FOR MANY HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, THIS BRINGS BACK BAD BLOOD.

ONE OF OUR LOVED PARKS REMAINS SHUTTERED AS CONTRIBUTING REPORTER DAVID WRIGHT FIRST REPORTED LAST MAY, MANY ARE STILL REELING FROM THE STATES BITTER LOSS.

♪ >> OPENING DAY 2021.

THAT IS JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS SON DOING THE HONORS.

>> THIS MAY BE AAA BALL, BUT IT IS A MAJOR LEAGUE MOMENT.

AMERICA'S PASTIME SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC.

THE BOYS OF SUMMER ARE FINALLY BACK.

THE STADIUM WHERE THEY PLAYED FOR HALF A CENTURY, ALL BUT ABANDONED.

AN APOCALYPTIC SCENE, BRIGHTENED ONLY BY MEMORABILIA AND MEMORIES.

MCCOY WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDS.

DENNIS ECKERSLEY, ROGERS AKERS CLEMENS, TO NAME A FEW.

MCCOY WAS THE SCENE OF BASEBALL'S LONGEST GAIN.

40 YEARS AGO, THE -- THEY FINALLY CLENCHED IT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 33RD INNING.

ALL OF THAT HISTORY AND NOW, ALL OF THOSE EMPTY SEATS.

>> IT WAS A PERFECT LITTLE FAMILY PARK AND IT IS HARD.

50 YEARS AS A LONG TIME.

THAT IS A GENERATION OF PEOPLE IN A SMALL STATE LIKE THIS.

FOR THEM TO PACK UP AND GO THAT JUST FEELS EMPTY.

>> IT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.

HERE, THERE IS A WHOLE BRAND-NEW BALLPARK FILL -- FULL OF NEWLY MINTED FANS.

>> JUST BOUGHT A HERE IN THE PARK.

>> RHODE ISLANDERS ARE A LITTLE MIFFED TO LOSE THIS TEAM.

>> SAME KIND OF HOMETOWN FEELING, YOU HAVE YOUR KIDS RUNNING AROUND, ENJOYING THE PARK, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE DUPLICATED HERE >> TUBE LOCATED HERE, BUT NO LONGER THERE.

>> FOR A LOT OF RHODE ISLANDERS, ESPECIALLY LONGTIME FANS, THE IDEA OF THE WU SOCKS IS A JOKE, A BETRAYAL.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS ALSO A CLASSIC A SMALL STORY.

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

DID YOU EVER THINK OF DAY WOULD COME?

>> NO.

IF YOU SAW WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE AND WHAT IS HERE NOW, IT DOES NOT SEEM.

IT IS ALMOST BETTER THAN FENWAY PARK AND I LOVE FENWAY PARK.

>> IT IS GOING TO BRING SOME GOOD MONEY INTO THE CITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY EVER LEFT PAWTUCKET, BUT I KNOW THE NEW STADIUM.

WE ARE CLOSE TO RHODE ISLAND SO THEY CAN ALWAYS COME AND VISIT US.

>> NOT LIKELY SAY SOME OF THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THE VOICE OF THE SOCKS HOPE THOSE HARD FEELINGS WILL SOFTEN.

CASTRO HAS BEEN IN THE BOOTH SINCE 2013.

HE SAYS HE GREW UP JUST A MILE FROM MCCOY STADIUM.

>> I AM A LIFETIME BUT I THAT RHODE ISLAND APPEARED PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN IN RHODE ISLAND AND STAY HERE IN 65 AND THEY MOVED FLORIDA FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE NICK OF BOCA -- COME AND GROW.

AN HOUR DRIVE IN WHICH LONGTIME FANS CAN STEW ABOUT WHO TO BLAME FOR RHODE ISLAND LOSING THE TEAM.

>> FOR RHODE ISLAND, I THINK IT IS A LOSS.

>> KEEPING THE SECTION IN RHODE ISLAND WAS ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS IN SPORTS.

>> CLAIMS POLITICAL MALPRACTICE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> THEY WOOED THIS NEW DEVELOPER, PROVIDENCE BASICALLY TREATED THE TEAM OWNERS LIKE HARBORAGE.

IT IS A LESSON FOR OUR POLITICIANS TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DEAL IS GOING TO GO THROUGH.

THEY DID PROPOSE ITS OWN FIELD OF DREAMS.

FOR YEARS, THEY RAN THE GOBLET OF HEARINGS AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

>> MCCOY ITSELF IS LESS AT 75 YEARS.

>> ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN EFFORT TO FASHION A DEAL.

>> STATE TAXPAYERS ARE ONLY GET A 23 MILLION OF THE $84 MILLION COST.

THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME THEY JUST SPENT ON THE LITTLE PROVIDENCE PEDESTRIAN RIDGE.

23 MILLION WE COULD'VE GOTTEN A $4 MILLION STADIUM PLUS SOME JOINING PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE AND FILLED IN ONE OF THE BALLPARKS DOWN HERE IN PROVIDENCE.

THE FAILURE OF THE PROPOSAL PRIMUS SOUNDED THE DEATHKNELL FOR NEARLY -- BASED MODERATION HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

NOW FOR THE FANS, INSTEAD OF THE THRILL OF VICTORY THERE IS ONLY THE AGONY OF DEFEAT.

>> IT WAS A TRAGEDY TO HAVE LOST THIS TEAM AND THE REASON, IF YOU WANT TO NAME ONE REASON, IT WAS POLITICAL COWARDICE.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE LOST THEM?

>> THEY ARE A BIG PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

NORMALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR THIS BEEN A BIT OF HUSTLE AND BUSTLE ABOUT IT.

>> IT IS A BUMMER.

>> IT'S HUGE.

THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT TO DO IN RHODE ISLAND, THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND EASY TO GET INTO.

WE TOOK IT FOR GRANTED.

IT WAS ALWAYS HERE AND NOW THAT IT'S NOT, IF YOU SPEAK A BIG LOSS.

>> THE NEW LOGO IS A SMILEY FACE PEN AND A TED WILLIAMS STANCE.

ACCORDING TO THE SMITHSONIAN, SMILEY FACE LOGO WAS INVENTED BACK IN THE 60'S.

ON OPENING DAY, AND AWKWARD MOMENT.

>> THEY HUGGED AND WAVED GOODBYE AND THEN THEY LET THE NEW GUY TAKES CENTER STAGE.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WORCESTER STEALING CENTER STAGE?

>> I THINK THEY CAN BOTH ENJOY THE RED SOX.

I THINK -- I HOPE THAT RHODE ISLANDERS COME TO WESTERN.

-- WORCESTER.

>> THERE IS PROVIDENCE AND IS WORCESTER.

WORCESTER IS KIND OF IN -- IT IS NOT A DESTINATION CITY.

PROVIDENCE IS BETTER THAN WESTERN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WENT THERE.

>> OUR THANKS TO DAVID FOR THAT REPORT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO JOURNEY TO WORCESTER IT RUNS TUESDAY TO APRIL 12 TO THE 15TH.

THAT IS A BROADCASTER THIS EVENING.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND TS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES.

OR YOU CAN THIS INTO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

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