'Incredibly striking': Ben Berke examines campaign donations ahead of rent-control vote

Ben Berke, who covers Providence, took a deep dive into the campaign finance reports of Councilor Ana Vargas, revealing the politician received an influx of donations in the months leading up to the vote. The majority of the donations came from landlords and others in the real estate industry. “The timing is incredibly striking and she’s refused to explain her position,” Berke said, noting in his reporting that Vargas was the only councilor who did not speak about why she voted against the rent-control ordinance. “I think that’s something people would want to know as they go into the voting booth.” While Vargas campaigned in support of rent control, she ultimately voted against the City Council leadership’s rent-control ordinance. Her opposition is one vote standing in the way of the council securing the 10 votes needed to override a veto issued by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. The mayor rejected the measure, saying it would stunt housing development and hurt the city financially. “She’s not raising a lot of money in these campaigns, even when she’s running for office — she’s not having big fundraisers,” Berke said of Vargas’ campaign account. “And it’s only when this rent-control vote comes up in the beginning of 2026 that she really starts to see big donations coming in.” The council has scheduled an override vote for Friday evening. Later in the show, Dan and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including: Dan’s pick Foster-Glocester School Committee reviews state police report on alleged sexual misconduct by teacher by Sandy Hall, The Valley Breeze From Fireball to fur, we found RI's lobbyists earned some $17M in 2025 by Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal Eli’s pick Mitchell: ‘Historic’ state aid proposal is too little, too late by Colin Hogan and Eleonora Bianchi, The New Bedford Light 'There's no place I'd rather be': Local youth sports mothers say life is busy, but just right by Mike Kirby, The Sun Chronicle