North Smithfield Public Comment

Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Government
  • Monthly

Between school drop-offs and running businesses, who has three hours for a Town Council meeting? Stop sifting through social media rumors and dense agendas. Public Comment is the go-to podcast for North Smithfield news that actually impacts your life. Hosts Sarah and Elizabeth—moms and local business owners—do the heavy lifting for you. We track school funding, tax spending, zoning, and the environment, delivering clear facts for your morning commute. Stop guessing and start knowing. Local news, made for neighbors, by neighbors.

  1. Oct 29

    Episode 20: Candidate Chat with Pedro DeSouza

    Pedro DeSouza — independent candidate for Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District — joins Elizabeth and Sarah to talk about why both parties have failed working people. From his data-driven homelessness reform plan that would cut state spending in half, to banning Wall Street firms from owning single-family homes, to why he filed for Congress days after Thomas Massey lost his primary. A working-class populist from Woonsocket who pressure washes, drives Uber, and decided it was time to stop yelling on Facebook and start yelling in Washington, D.C. Find Pedro at voteforpedrori.com. Find us at nspubliccomment.com, on Facebook at Public Comment North Smithfield, and on Instagram @nspubliccomment.

  2. Oct 22

    North Smithfield Ballot Questions

    Early voting is here! Sarah and Elizabeth are back — just the two of them — to break down all 10 local ballot questions facing North Smithfield voters (questions 6 through 15). From the controversial town council term lengths (Q6) to the new Department of Facilities and Capital Assets (Q8) to the code of ethics update (Q15), they dig through the legalese so you don't have to. We cover: • Q6: Town Council Terms — staggered 4-year terms, how it works, and why it's the most controversial question • Q7: Personnel Board Duties — loosening restrictions on political activity • Q8: Department of Facilities & Capital Assets — a new department for long-term planning • Q9–Q10: Board of Canvassers & Tax Anticipation Notes — charter cleanup to match state law • Q11: Ordinance Publication — should the town keep publishing in newspapers? • Q12–Q14: Audit Requirements, Planning Board Powers & School Committee Powers — more state law alignment • Q15: Code of Ethics — replacing the town's voluntary code with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission standards Vote down the WHOLE ballot, people. These questions are at the very end. 📅 Early voting: Wednesday, October 15th at Town Hall on Green Street 📅 Regular election: Tuesday, November 3rd 🗳️ Check your registration & polling place: vote.sos.ri.gov 📧 nspubliccomment@gmail.com 🌐 nspubliccomment.com 📘 Facebook: Public Comment North Smithfield 📸 Instagram: @nspubliccomment #PublicComment #NorthSmithfield #BallotQuestions #VoteLocal #RhodeIsland #NorthSmithfieldRI #Election2026 #VoteDownTheBallot #LocalElections #Civics

  3. Oct 15

    Episode Eighteen: Candidate Chat with David Punchak

    Hosts Sarah LaFontaine and Elizabeth Hammond interview David Punchak, a town council member running for re-election. The conversation covers David's upbringing in Lincoln, Rhode Island, where he grew up surrounded by extended family; his career in design, where most of his work is budget-driven municipal projects rather than the creative work he prefers; and his years of volunteer involvement in town youth sports, including serving as soccer president for two years after his own children had finished participating. Topics include family influence on civic engagement, the tension between budget constraints and design quality in municipal work, and the practical realities of local government service. Find David at "Punchak for North Smithfield Town Council" or contact him at  401-265-8253. Find Public Comment at nspubliccomment.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PublicCommentNorthSmithfield or on instagram @nspubliccomment

  4. Oct 8

    Episode Seventeen: Candidate Chat with Nelly Burdette

    In this episode, hosts Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine sit down with Nelly Burdette, a psychologist, working mom, and first-generation immigrant running for Rhode Island Senate District 17 (Lincoln, North Smithfield, and North Providence). Nelly shares why two decades in mental healthcare pushed her to run for office — not as a career politician, but as a community member determined to fix broken systems from the inside. We dig into the affordability crisis hitting Rhode Island families, the silos stalling mental health progress, what it takes to rebuild trust between communities and their government, and the door-to-door conversations that keep Nelly hopeful. Plus, Nelly answers our signature questions: if she had a magic wand on day one, what would she change? And what's the one question no one ever asks that she wishes they would? Topics covered: • Healthcare access & affordability in Rhode Island • Mental health system silos and stalled initiatives • Rebuilding community trust in local government • Nelly's immigrant story and what shaped her • "Little p" politics and why every conversation matters • The magic wand question: healthcare for all • What gives Nelly hope 🔗 Learn more about Nelly's campaign: electnelly.com 📧 Reach the show: nspubliccomment@gmail.com 🌐 nspubliccomment.com 📱 Instagram: @nspubliccomment 📘 Facebook: Public Comment North Smithfield If you like what we do, leave us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — it helps your neighbors find us.

  5. Oct 1

    Episode Sixteen: Candidate Chat with Veronicka Vega

    Veronica Vega is running for Rhode Island House District 49,representing Woonsocket and part of North Smithfield. We talk about economic development, school funding, infrastructure, clean energy, and what it really means to be an accessible representative. Veronica also shares her personal story — from experiencing homelessness to running for office. Public Comment: North Smithfield is local news by the neighbors, for the neighbors. We're two local moms and small business owners digging through the issues so you don't have to. Find us at nspubliccomment.com Email: nspubliccomment@gmail.com Instagram: @nspubliccomment Facebook: Public Comment North Smithfield Find Veronica at vegaforri.com on Facebook &Instagram

  6. Sep 24

    Episode Fifteen: Candidate Chat with Jon Brien

    Sarah and Elizabeth sit down with Rhode Island StateRepresentative Jon Brien, the only independent in the RI General Assembly, representing District 49 (Woonsocket & North Smithfield). Jon shares his remarkable political journey — from serving as a Democrat, to losing his seat by 50 votes, to returning a decade later and winning by the exact same marginas an independent. They dig into his landmark 340B prescription drug legislation that took on Big Pharma, Rhode Island's energy policy and why your bills keep rising, the broken two-party system, and what a three-party future could look like. Plus, Jon reveals the career he always wanted — and it involves a turntable, not a gavel. Public Comment is a hyper-local civic podcast hosted by Sarah LaFontaine and Elizabeth Hammond, two North Smithfield moms and small business owners doing the heavy lifting so you don't have to. Find us at nspubliccomment.com or on Facebook at PublicComment North Smithfield. Find Jon by phone (401-559-3999) or email (jondbriendistrict49@gmail.com)

  7. Sep 19

    Episode Fourteen: Public Comment After Dark with Guest Host Bryan Murray

    Sometimes following local politics is enough to drive you to drink - so that's what we did. Elizabeth and Sarah are joined by guest host Bryan Murray for the first-ever episode of Public Comment After Dark. They do a wine and tequila filled deep dive into the North Smithfield town council race. They unpack the pettiness of the local campaign season, from sign-stealing drama to Facebook feuds, and explore why nice neighbors seem to transform after they declare a candidacy. Then, the trio puts all eight town council candidates — Kevin Carriere, Rebecca DeCristofaro, Sean Fuller, Paul Jones, Ann Lilley, BethNewberry, Michael Plante, and David Punchak — through the "Google Test," searching to see what everyday voters can actually find online about each candidate's platform. From SEO-optimized websites to candidates with no digital presence at all, they leave no search result unturned. Plus, Bryan shares his vision for building communities that residents inherit, and we ask him the question no one ever asks. Pour yourself a glass of your favorite after-dark beverage and tune in.Find us: • Website: nspubliccomment.com • Email: nspubliccomment@gmail.com • Facebook: Public Comment North Smithfield (page and group) • Instagram: @nspubliccomment Find the Candidates: • Kevin Carriere: https://kevinforns.com/ • Rebecca DeCristofaro (incumbent): https://yourteamfornstc.com/ • Sean Fuller • Paul Jones: https://www.electpauljones.com/ • Ann Lilley: https://yourteamfornstc.com/ • Beth Newberry: https://yourteamfornstc.com/ • Michael Plante • David Punchak (incumbent): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563070934094

    Episode Fourteen: Public Comment After Dark with Guest Host Bryan Murray

  8. Sep 17

    Episode 13: Candidate Chat with Mark Fasano

    In this episode of Public Comment, Elizabeth and Sarahwelcome Mark Fasano, candidate for North Smithfield School Committee. Mark talks about his 20 years as a North Smithfield resident, his work building the town's youth softball program, and his goals for the school system if elected. It's a conversation about community, kids, and what it means to serve your town. Public Comment is a local news podcast covering NorthSmithfield, Rhode Island — by the neighbors, for the neighbors. Mark's website is https://fasanofornorthsmithfield.weebly.com Follow us: Facebook at Public Comment North Smithfield| Instagram at @nspubliccomment

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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Between school drop-offs and running businesses, who has three hours for a Town Council meeting? Stop sifting through social media rumors and dense agendas. Public Comment is the go-to podcast for North Smithfield news that actually impacts your life. Hosts Sarah and Elizabeth—moms and local business owners—do the heavy lifting for you. We track school funding, tax spending, zoning, and the environment, delivering clear facts for your morning commute. Stop guessing and start knowing. Local news, made for neighbors, by neighbors.

Information

  • Creator
    Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Elizabeth Hammond and Sarah LaFontaine
  • Show Website
    North Smithfield Public Comment

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