Doing More to Grow our Local Economy and Workforce
Our Ocean State has to do more to capitalize on attainable opportunities for economic growth. In District 68, this means the continued maturation of strong partnerships between local employers and state agencies to provide added focus on expansions in critical manufacturing and industry sectors. We need to increase training and education resources that support a strong pipeline for workforce development.

Supporting The Future of our Regional Schools​​
Improvements need to be made across the spectrum of our education system to support students and educators. In many towns, including Bristol and Warren, additional state aid must be appropriated to protect against further budget imbalances and program cuts. Finding such balance requires experienced local perspective. My own kids are in the regional school system and this is an issue I have followed closely as a member of the Town Council and the Joint Finance Committee. I also support increasing the availability of career technical education resources and alternative postsecondary programming for all Rhode Islanders.

Bringing Focus to Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement in District 68

​Transportation is the backbone of any strong local economy and a factor that impacts quality of life for all. Rhode Islanders have felt the impacts of our crumbling infrastructure in many different ways. Our District knows this all too well: streets across Warren and Bristol in need of resurfacing, sidewalk replacement projects on Metacom Avenue and Hope Street years overdue. While local improvements have begun, our work is far from over. Investment in infrastructure must not end at fresh pavement. As State Representative, I will take specific steps to enhance our existing roads and bridges and work to expand interconnectivity in the East Bay.

· Identifying potential solutions to improving traffic patterns for state controlled highways

· Fostering new opportunities for regional transportation including the expansion of ferry access to Bristol, Warren and other communities in the East Bay

· Stimulating opportunities for local industries that can provide the necessary services and resources for community infrastructure improvement projects, such as the Independence Park master plan and the “Broken Bridge” Bike Path expansion

· Promoting coastal resilience by reinforcing and protecting shoreline infrastructure that can protect our homes as well as the industries who rely on our working waterfront

Moving Forward on RI’s Minimum Wage​​
We must continue to build on the incremental increases in minimum wage established for 2018 and 2019. Reaching a benchmark such as $15 does not happen overnight, it requires careful consideration of how general and indexed pay rate increases impact employers and workers alike over specific periods of time. As the cost of living continues to rise, so too must the ability of working Rhode Islanders to grow and flourish. Wages are one part of a larger shift that is necessary for improvement in access to child care, education, health care and housing within the district.

Improving the Availability and Affordability of Housing in Bristol & Warren​
The rising cost of housing across the district is a challenge that jeopardizes the future health of our community. We need to do more to ensure that those who wish to live in Bristol and Warren can do so affordably, especially for young working families and our senior citizens. It is a matter of protecting and promoting the incentives that exist for developers to build more affordable housing units using available space in an efficient manner. We do not need more ‘luxury’ options. At the same time, other factors must be addressed. We need to create more opportunities for access to career and technical education. We need to create a local economic environment that attracts greater workforce development and the establishment of more high-value, high pay jobs that can turn more of our neighbors into stable home owners and renters.

Protecting Narragansett Bay and our Shoreline Environment

​Our bay is one of our greatest resources as a community. More and more frequently now we see our coast threatened by intense storm and flooding events. The infrastructure and businesses that rely on our ‘working waterfront’ are vulnerable to the looming impacts of sea level rise. My previous experience working in cooperation with federal and state environmental agencies as well as local environmental organizations has taught me there are no easy solutions for the challenges of environmental protection. This perspective continues to support my efforts to protect the environment while ensuring a resilient shoreline for our community needs.

Continuing the Fight against the Opioid Epidemic

​The opioid epidemic has touched the lives of countless families in our state and in our district. With greater federal funding available to expand our resources across Rhode Island, we must continue to support the leadership of the Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Taskforce and the progress that has been made toward reducing opioid overdose deaths. We must continue to commit to saving lives through protecting access to supportive health care services and holding health insurance providers accountable for backing access to treatment programs.

Copyright © Nicki Tyska for Rhode Island State Representative . All rights reserved. 

Strengthening Pay Equity for Women​​
It is alarming to know that women in Rhode Island are paid an average of 82 cents for every dollar paid to men, often for the same jobs. Such imbalance creates circumstances that undermine quality of life for families and ultimately our state economy. We need to understand how discriminatory workplace policies have maintained a prolonged existence untouched so that supportive policies can enforce precise standards that address inequality against of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Proposing Responsible Investments in Power Grid Infrastructure, Clean Energy

​I believe that an increased investment in wind and solar energy is a critical aspect in the future of our energy security in Rhode Island and around the United States. There is no doubting our need to divest ourselves from fossil fuels and their impacts to climate change.

Looking ahead, we must work to certify the clear benefits that wind and solar development efforts have for Rhode Islanders and statewide energy infrastructure. Such advancements in clean energy are only as valuable as the facilities and resources designed to deliver it. When the power goes out frequently, our productivity and quality of life suffer. Greater demands must be made of our utility providers like National Grid in Bristol and Warren so that necessary improvements are made for the future stability of our power.

Andy’s desire to serve the people of Bristol and Warren as State Representative is rooted in his deep appreciation of our community.

You have seen his dedication first hand as a local business owner, town councilman and leading community organizer whose actions reflect transparency, honesty and determination. Andy believes in the shared commitment toward building a stronger future for District 68 – Let’s work together to achieve our shared goals and bring a local perspective to the State House!

Andy believes that common sense solutions for common challenges will help chart a steady course toward greater progress for all…