I am the youngest of seven children. I have five older brothers and a sister. Growing up in a big family, there was a lot of joking and teasing and occasional fighting. Sometimes, when the older brothers would tease or criticize the younger ones in a way that made them feel less than, my mom would say to the harasser, “Are you getting your biggies? Does that make you feel like a big man?” Meaning, are you making someone else feel small so you can feel big?
The Burrillville Town Council president frequently uses social media to refer to fellow town residents with words such as “uneducated’ and “stupid.” Recently, at a town council meeting on November 12th, (Town Council President) Fox referred to “the idiots in Providence” when discussing a possible housing development in town: an attendee had to remind him this appeared to be a violation of the council’s code of conduct. Still, Fox defended his right to call residents “losers” to their faces as long as it was not in his role as town council president.
When I see him use such adolescent insults, I hear my mom’s voice in my head saying quietly, “Mr. Fox, are you trying to get your biggies?”
2025 has been a challenging year for our community in Burrillville, marked by divisions among residents, and sometimes families and friends, who held opposing views regarding the installation of the turf field at the high school. More often than not, conversations were respectful despite differences. But at times, it felt like fires were intentionally being started by Mr. Fox, trying to get his biggies.
2026 is just around the corner, and for many, the new year traditionally starts with hope. I hope in the coming year, our community will elect a leadership team that seeks to bring us together and move us forward rather than divide us. And when inevitably we do disagree, we will do it in a way that makes our mothers proud.
Betsy Alper
Burrillville, RI
Not only does he bully people, but his antics create a chilling effect and people are afraid to speak out against him. People who oppose him find themselves in the middle of lawsuits. This type of retaliation should be and probably is, illegal.
Nicely put Betsy! Having grown up in this town I watched very strong personalities from Town Hall, the Council and the leader of the Dem Town comm. often publically argue and disagree about issues. (Maybe around the dinner table there were unkind words used in reference to decisions that were disagreed upon, but NEVER! Did I hear or see in print the disrespect and unprofessional language used public ally by our Town Leaders as it is by Mr. Fox, Pres. of the BTC! Very sad and as already mentioned a terrible lesson for our youth!
What example are we setting for our children and grandchildren? When did name calling become normalized in a civil society? Where are the role models now? Road rage, high school violence, rude behavior and on and on. I am no prude, far from it, but when our leaders stoop to name calling it sets a poor example for our youth. First amendment gives us the right to speak our minds, good! But with that right comes a responsibility to set a better example for our kids.
This guy should not be representing the town of Burrillville. He is so unprofessional and extremely immature. Hopefully this is his last year
I can’t say anything here that upsets the Biggies…there’s no free speech if it hurts someone’s feelings…all it takes is ONE!
Linda. The first amendment protects you from the government stifling your speech. It does not protect you from your constituents criticizing you, it in-fact enables it. You have that exactly backwards.