Subscribe!
Ron & Jen’s Great Escape, December 13, 2023 – Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien
by Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien, commentary
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
So, yesterday was fun. I sat in traffic for 2 hours to make a trip that would normally take 13 minutes. If you haven’t heard, over in my neck of the woods we have a traffic problem. I live in Riverside/East Providence and the madness that ensued yesterday was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
Traffic was at a standstill at 7:30am. People were driving down the wrong side of the road to squeeze into the traffic line because no one would let them out from the side streets. There was ZERO POLICE presence directing that traffic and getting people through intersections.
Traffic lights were out, emergency vehicles with wailing sirens were trying to get through, and literally, people got out of their cars to DIRECT TRAFFIC THEMSELVES because they were freaking out so badly! It was WILD!
While I have a bazillion questions and was really confused as to how local police as well as the DOT could let 90,000 commuters freestyle it on the way to work OF DAY 1 OF THIS CRAP SHOW I recognize this was, in fact, day 1 and I can dole out some grace here… At least I can, today.
Although I was thoroughly pissed watching the press conference yesterday where all the big wigs gave themselves a slap on the back – an atta boy over and over about this mess ,and what a terrific job they’re doing. Frankly, no one should be talking about anyone other than the commuter. We don’t want to hear officials bloviate about their awesomeness. It’s insulting. Honestly. So, how do we get through this that will no doubt take way longer to fix this than they are saying? Here’s what I want you to do! I have an assignment for YOU!
While you’re sitting there, wherever “there” is, waiting and waiting to move an inch… make a video! Take a pic! Write down a thought! Take a selfie and send it to me!!!!!
I’ll post anything and everything on our “RON AND JEN’S GREAT ESCAPE” page on FACEBOOK and we can all have a laugh together. Look people, we really need to DIAL up some serious patience here… and bring a Rubiks cube to this dance because you’ll need both getting through that mess.
If you hate email find me on FB and direct message me (search Jennifer Brien… I have the QUISP logo as my profile pic) with your stories, pics, whatever.
Remember we are all in this together. Well, at least 90,000 of us are anyway.
Till next week my friends and happy trails to you!
Jen
___
SHARING A DEBACLE
The Washington Bridge mess happens the same week as the 16th anniversary of the “December Debacle” of 2007 when several inches of snow fell per hour and businesses and schools released all at once. Drivers were trapped in the evening commute and kids were stuck on busses causing gridlock through Southern New England and leaving parents frightened about their kids’ safety. This is an example of coincidence, not of irony… unless, of course, school busses and parents have a similar experience dealing with the closure of 195-W.
TRICKLE DOWN IMPACT
You’ve got to feel bad for all the businesses that will be negatively impacted by this mess, so many of which heavily rely on this time of the year to make their numbers. Add to the fact so many are just recovering from COVID’S impact.
THE PAPER OF RECORD
The continuing demise of the Providence Journal was on full display Tuesday morning. The “hard copy” of the ProJo had ZERO coverage of this story that broke about 5:30 Monday afternoon. The ProJo’s E-edition’s “Top Headlines” had nothing, nada, zilch. Only a small note under “more stories” that was posted at 9pm Monday night had any info. I last checked my E-edition at 8:30am Tuesday and it was still crickets… the ProJo finally updated the E-edition after that. Note to THE PAMPHLET – people start their day as early as 5am now.
___
Read all of Ron & Jen’s columns, here: https://rinewstoday.com/ron-st-pierre-jen-brien/
Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.
Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.
Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.
“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted look at the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering each Wednesday and listen to Ron and Jen’s Great Escape on NewsRadio 920 and 104-7 FM, Saturday morning, 7am!