Rhode Island is two worlds.
Inside rte 295 is a socialist enclave of homos, crimaliens and welfare chiselers. The mayor of Providence is a happy communist who has declared the capital a sanctuary city for all enemies of America and a gun free zone. That explains all the crime. That and all the spoiled brat commie punks who attend Brown University.
Outside of 295, Rhode Island is beautiful country. The south coast is an undiscovered treasure, with great beaches, fishing and hunting. We are generally well armed and capable, self reliant and patriotic.
If there was no metropolitan section, Rhode Island would be the nicest place to live.
Your description of the dichotomy of tiny RI makes a lot of sense actually.
And the former Mayor, who has a pasta sauce named after him, is in jail.