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Boston Globe
01-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Years in the making, Amazon unveils new facility, touting 1,500 jobs and millions in tax revenue for Johnston, R.I.
And while the $400 million facility first opened its doors to its now more than 1,500 full-time workers in October, site leader Sultan Kabiawu said the operation had reached what he considered 'a new maturity point' by Tuesday morning. Advertisement 'We've grown to a point where we're able to serve the demand that we would like to serve in the local area,' Kabiawu said. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up A look inside Amazon's facility in Johnston, R.I. The site employs approximately 1,500 people. Christopher Gavin/Globe Staff So set the backdrop of Tuesday's official ribbon cutting for the center – the end of a years-long effort to get the online retailer up and running off of Route 6, about eight miles west of downtown Providence. The location is prime for Amazon: Kabiawu said the site allowed the company to reduce the time it takes to get orders to customers – the latest piece in the retailer's regionalization strategy. The facility holds approximately 41 million items spanning the consumer spectrum, from toys and books to electronics and 'everyday essentials,' he said. But local and state officials on hand Tuesday were also quick to point out a few other numbers. Advertisement Thanks to Related : The project is 'the essence of what we do here in Johnston,' Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. said Tuesday. The town of nearly 30,000 people plays 'Here in Johnston, we have fully embraced our local, regional, and national transformation into a service economy,' Polisena said. 'The premise we follow here is simple: The more commercial tax revenue you generate, the less you need to ask from your residents. That formula has worked for us, and it's honestly one that can work anywhere.' Related : Address labels are placed on boxes inside Amazon's facility in Johnston, R.I. Christopher Gavin/Globe Staff Brad Griggs, who leads economic development for Amazon in New England, the mid-Atlantic region, and Canada, said the company is 'proud to call Rhode Island home.' The facility picks, packs, and prepares packages for transport to sorting and logistics facilicites across the Northeast, he said. Construction on the center began in 2022, and according to Kabiawu, the facility is now fully staffed. Wages start at $20.50 per hour. Governor Dan McKee said Amazon has been 'a great partner' for the state. 'They're helping us with our small business transition into this world of [online] retail,' McKee said. Advertisement More than 60 percent of Amazon sales are from independent sellers, most of them small- and medium-sized businesses, according to the company. In Rhode Island, those sellers averaged more than $160,000 in annual sales and sold more than 4 million items last year, Amazon said. Amazon employee Kaitlin Correia-Sweeney loads items into bins at the company's new order fulfillment facility in Johnston, R.I. on Tuesday. Christopher Gavin/Globe Staff Among the local sellers is John Speights, owner of Cooper's Cask Coffee, based in East Greenwich. Speights, who previously had a 20-year career in tech, officially launched the business in 2015, after he began roasting coffee in a garage for fun, he said. Related : These days, the business has a small staff: two-full time employees and five-part-time workers during the holiday season, he said. 'Amazon has been huge for us. It's enabled us to scale without having to invest in infrastructure,' Speights said in an interview on Tuesday. 'During the holiday season, we'll sell 20,000 or 30,000 units, all in December, and without that infrastructure it'd be very difficult to do that.' According to Amazon, since 2010, the company has invested $1 billion in Rhode Island, 'including infrastructure and compensation to employees, adding another $1 billion to the state gross domestic product.' The company also owns a delivery station and three Whole Foods Market locations throughout the state. The entrance to Amazon's new facility in Johnston, R.I. Christopher Gavin/Globe Staff Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
04-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Rhode Island DMV warns of surge in fraudulent text messages
Officials shared an example of one of the messages, which states the alert is a 'final notice' from the 'Department of Motor Vehicles.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' the message reads. 'Our records indicate that you currently have an unpaid traffic violation… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes…' According to the DMV, the messages cite 'fictitious legal code and link to fraudulent websites.' The agency said it does not send requests for payments or threats through text messages – the DMV sends information through the US Mail – and emphasized the public should not click on any suspicious links, as doing so could expose 'individuals to identify theft, malware, or financial fraud.' 'Scammers are continually preying on people's fears to manipulate them into revealing personal and financial information,' DMV Administrator Walter R. Craddock said in a statement. 'We encourage all Rhode Islanders to stay alert and verify their driving privileges only through reliable, official sources.' Advertisement Officials said fraudulent messages can be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at 'Rhode Island residents who have concerns about their DMV records should utilize our Online DMV Customer Portal at Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
06-05-2025
- Boston Globe
R.I. therapist surrenders license over ‘non-professional relationship' with underage client
The client was a 'student under the age of 18' who resided at the career training and education facility, the order states. Advertisement R.I. Department of Health and the state Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists received complaints alleging Vescera was involved in the relationship with the student, according to the order. Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up 'In the course of RIDOH's investigation into the allegations, [Vescera] submitted false and misleading statements to RIDOH in an effort to conceal her non-professional relationship … and to thwart RIDOH's investigation,' the document states. In August 2023, RIDOH found the allegations against Vescera were 'reliable' and The department notified Vescera in March that a hearing would be held to determine whether her license 'should be revoked or otherwise disciplined,' as she was charged with unprofessional conduct as a licensed mental health counselor 'based on violations' of state law and the National Board of Certified Counselors 'Code of Ethics,' the order states. Advertisement Under the terms of the order, Vescera agreed to voluntarily and permanently surrender her license and to fulfill 'any continuing obligations she may have with respect to the handling of client records and the appropriate transfer of client records.' Vescera could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. According to court records, Vescera does not face any criminal charges. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
30-04-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Eight entangled seals rescued off Block Island after state installs camera, officials say
Included with the post is a photo of one of the seals rescued, which the agency said is 'currently making great progress in rehabilitation at Mystic Aquarium' in Connecticut. Advertisement The department reminded the public that approaching seals is prohibited under the marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as it can create stress for them and spread diseases. People should stay at least 150 feet away from the mammals. Sightings of entangled or distressed seals should be reported to the aquarium by calling its hotline at (860) 572-5955, extension 107, the department said. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
28-04-2025
- Boston Globe
Providence man in ‘stable' condition after being shot by Johnston police officer he allegedly struck with a car
Officials have previously said Peterson is expected to survive. According to authorities, police responded to a report of a possible disturbance at a Shell gas station at 1396 Hartford Ave. in Johnston at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. A third-party caller reported a 'potential argument' between a man and a woman in the parking lot, police said. At the scene, officers found both of them, with the man 'seated alone in the driver's seat of a white Nissan Sentra, positioned in the parking lot facing out toward Hartford Avenue,' police said. Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up 'As one of the responding officers exited his patrol vehicle, the driver of the Sentra accelerated forward, striking the officer,' police said. 'At that time, the officer discharged his service weapon, firing multiple rounds at the driver.' Advertisement The Sentra continued north across Hartford Avenue before it hit a pylon and came to a stop, police said. Officers provided medical aid to the driver, who was later identified as Peterson and brought to the hospital. 'The involved officer sustained minor injuries during the incident,' police said. 'He was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment and was subsequently discharged.' According to police, at the time of Saturday's shooting, Peterson was wanted on a warrant from Rhode Island State Police on charges of obstructing an officer and reckless driving. Advertisement Peterson was arraigned at the hospital on Sunday evening on charges of felony assault, assault of a police officer, obstructing a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and 'reckless driving and other offenses against public safety,' police said. Peterson is being held without bail as a probation and bail violator, according to authorities. The shooting will be investigated by members of the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, State Police, and the Johnston Police Department, as required by protocol, officials said. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
