From the 36...

My perspectives on the issues impacting Rhode Island and District 36

Scenic view of a coastal cliff with green vegetation and a winding path. In the distance, a lighthouse and several buildings are visible on the cliff's edge, overlooking the ocean under a partly cloudy sky.

Welcome to From the 36. It’s a place where I share what’s happening in and around our corner of Rhode Island, from Narragansett to North Kingstown to Block Island.

Sometimes it’s policy, sometimes it’s personal, but it’s always about the people and issues that shape our community.

Check in often to see what’s on my mind, what’s going on in District 36, and how together we can keep turning the tide in the right direction.

Mark Mesrobian 4/10/26 Mark Mesrobian 4/10/26

Something Still Smells in Quonset

Elected officials are lining up to oppose the sludge plant in Quonset, but where’s the alternative?

If we’re serious about solving the problem, we can’t stop at “no.”

We need to ask the harder question: what’s the plan?

Mark Mesrobian 4/4/26 Mark Mesrobian 4/4/26

Who’s Checking the Bill?

Before you pay a restaurant bill, you take a look to make sure everything adds up.

Similarly, Rhode Island spends billions each year on healthcare and social services.

When it comes to billions in taxpayer dollars, we need to ask: Who’s checking the bill?

Mark Mesrobian 4/3/26 Mark Mesrobian 4/3/26

What Real Housewives Gets Right About Rhode Island

Reality TV shows one version of Rhode Island. Most people are living another.

That gap between perception and reality is real, and it’s getting wider.

For many people, it’s getting harder to live and work here every day.

Mark Mesrobian 3/21/26 Mark Mesrobian 3/21/26

Are We Building a Car Factory Because We Need a New Car?

Rhode Island is exploring a new medical school at URI to help address the state’s doctor shortage.

It’s an exciting long-term idea, but how do we balance that vision with the healthcare access challenges Rhode Islanders are facing today?

Mark Mesrobian 3/17/26 Mark Mesrobian 3/17/26

When Did “Normal” Become the Exception?

A quick comment at the gym stopped me in my tracks: “You come across as normal.”

When did being normal become unusual in politics?

Maybe Rhode Island needs less political theater and more common sense.

Mark Mesrobian 3/5/26 Mark Mesrobian 3/5/26

Rhode Island Wants to Pay Workers to Stay… So Why Are They Leaving?

A new proposal would help certain workers repay student loans if they stay in high-need professions.

While well-intentioned, programs like this may address the symptoms of Rhode Island’s workforce shortage rather than the underlying causes driving young professionals to leave the state.

Let’s not only look at what this policy is meant to do, let’s also look at what it doesn’t do.