Episode One: Welcome to North Smithfield
View the transcript.
Sarah and Elizabeth introduce themselves and their podcast — a monthly deep-dive into local politics and community issues in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, told from the perspective of two neighbors, small business owners, and moms who are doing the research so you don't have to.
Meet Your Hosts Sarah is a lifelong Rhode Islander whose husband's family has called North Smithfield home for four generations. Elizabeth is a transplant who fell in love with the town's community and character after moving from the suburbs. Both are therapists, both are on the North Smithfield Democratic Committee — and both make clear this podcast is entirely independent of that affiliation.
A Little Town History North Smithfield broke off from Smithfield in 1871 and is made up of five mill villages along the Branch and Blackstone Rivers. Its population hovered around 3,000 in its early days, dipped as mills closed, then grew steadily after WWII — reaching roughly 12,500 residents in the 2020 census. Today the town is a mix of multigenerational families and newer arrivals drawn by open space, good schools, and proximity to Providence, Worcester, and Boston.
How Local Government Works North Smithfield has five at-large town councilors (elected by ranked choice vote to two-year terms) and a full-time town administrator (four-year terms). Boards and committees — staffed entirely by volunteers — do the deep research and bring recommendations to the council. Sarah and Elizabeth highlight both the generosity of those who serve and the challenge of keeping seats filled.
The Budget The FY2026 town budget is approximately $55.3 million. Funding comes from property taxes ($11.49 per $1,000 assessed value), ~$16 million in state aid (including ~$9 million for schools), fees, and grants. North Smithfield carries about $10 million in an emergency reserve fund and tends to be skeptical of taking on debt via bonds.
Major Issues on the Horizon (all getting their own deep-dive episodes)
Police Station / Public Safety Complex — The building has twice been deemed uninsurable without emergency repairs. A $9 million bond recently passed after a $20 million proposal was rejected years earlier.
Hallowell Community Center — The former elementary school building has been demolished, leaving an empty lot. Plans for a community center (with event space, a larger food pantry, senior programming, and afterschool activities) have stalled repeatedly.
Route 146A Corridor — A stretch through town that's underdeveloped, with potential for new businesses or housing but no clear plan yet.
The Quarry — A mining company operating near residential areas, facing allegations of excess dust, illegal blasting hours, noise violations, and groundwater impact. Neighboring residents have been the primary advocates, using drone footage and public records requests to document violations.
The Junkyard — A residential-area junkyard with a history of citations for taking in unlicensed hazardous materials, non-compliant vehicles, and failure to properly fence the sprawling property. The town council recently extended the operator's compliance deadline, frustrating neighbors.
PFAS / Groundwater Contamination — PFAS has been detected in school well water. Much of North Smithfield relies on well water, and the long-term solution — connecting the whole town to municipal water — would be a massive, grant-dependent infrastructure project at a time when federal grants have been cut.
The Recurring Theme Delay, delay, delay — then a rushed, expensive fix when the problem becomes a crisis. Sarah and Elizabeth argue this pattern shows up across nearly every major issue in town, and they're here to shine a light on it before things reach that point.
Correction: In the podcast, Elizabeth mentioned volunteering at CPAC in 2010. The conference she was referencing took place in 2011.
