Providence City Council President Luis Aponte issued the following statement in response to news that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island intends to relocate employees to East Providence:
“I am extremely disappointed in this news and will seek an immediate meeting with the president of Blue Cross Blue Shield to discuss the company’s recent decision to deplete employees from its downtown Providence campus. The City provided to Blue Cross an attractive Tax Stabilization Agreement (TSA) based on the understanding that the company would be a highly active participant in the City, make improvements to the building, and maintain a significant employee base that would contribute to the vibrancy of the City by eating in its restaurants and shopping in its stores. The City did not enter into this sort of a generous TSA only to have Blue Cross slowly but surely become a glorified landlord. It would appear as though they have broached the spirit of the Agreement, if not the actual legality of it, and this is deserving of the Council’s immediate attention.”
In response to an incident involving 50 ATVs that swarmed a public park over the holiday weekend, Councilman Michael Correia (Ward Six) is calling on the Providence Police Department to increase its presence in the Manton area and enforce laws that prohibit the operation of recreational vehicles in public spaces (Ordinance No. 2015-5, § 1, 4-13-15, “Article VII – Snowmobiles and Recreational Vehicles”).
In a letter addressed to Commissioner Steven Pare and Colonel Hugh Clements, Correia writes, “Our public spaces need to be monitored more closely. The owners of such vehicles must be properly held accountable for disturbing our neighborhoods risking the safety of constituents.”
“I was disheartened to hear that nearly 50 ATV vehicles stormed across an occupied park near Aleppo Street over the holiday weekend,” Correia continued. “Only one person was arrested after police officers followed drivers speeding down Manton Avenue. I take the safety and well-being of our constituents very seriously, as should our police force. They must send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”
The Providence City Council Committee on Ordinances tonight approved passage of the Community Safety Act (CSA), a community-driven, comprehensive ordinance that codifies into law best practices in police conduct from around the country. The CSA is considered one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in the United States, exceeding standards set forth by the Comprehensive Community-Police Relations Act passed by the RI General Assembly in 2015.
Following last week’s public hearing, the Ordinance Committee tonight adopted final amendments to the CSA that reflect greater input from all stakeholders. In its final form, the bill is the product of nearly three years of activism, research, and stakeholder engagement. The comprehensive scope of the ordinance makes it the first of its kind in the country.
Councilors Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) and Kevin Jackson (Ward 3) led the charge to produce a comprehensive bill that protects marginalized communities and builds trust between police officers and the community they serve. Under the leadership of Harris and Jackson, the City Council solicited input from a wide range of stakeholders to craft this landmark piece of legislation, including the Fraternal Order of Police, members of the STEP-UP Coalition, the Chief of Police, Commissioner of Public Safety, the Mayor’s Office, and the City’s law department.
“Although this process has been long, the result is tremendously worthwhile,” said Councilwoman Harris. “Through intense, inclusive collaboration, this process brought together activists, elected officials, and police officers to come up with a comprehensive piece of legislation that will soon become a valuable tool in strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the community it serves.”
Among its many provisions, the CSA prohibits racial and other forms of discriminatory profiling, mandates policies for the use of body cameras, brings much-needed reforms to the Providence Police Department’s “gang database,” and codifies into law the City’s longstanding policies regarding non-criminal immigration concerns.
“The evolution of this ordinance is attributed to the strong partnership between the Providence Police Department, the Providence community, and the City’s elected leadership,” said Council President Luis Aponte. “At a time when many municipalities are seeing community-police relations deteriorate, we are fortunate to have seen the opposite effect here in Providence. The ongoing discussion we’ve had with the Providence Police Department regarding the CSA reflects the department’s commitment to our City’s many communities. Throughout these discussions, our police officers have never walked away from the conversation; in fact, they have listened at every step of the way and provided us with important insight.”
The bill is supported by many local organizations including the ACLU of Rhode Island, Cambodian Society of Rhode Island, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, Economic Progress Institute, Fox Point Neighborhood Association, National Lawyers Guild of Rhode Island, New Urban Arts, No DAPL Rhode Island, and Showing Up for Racial Justice, Rhode Island.
CSA HIGHLIGHTS:
Prohibits racial and other forms of discriminatory profiling
o Prevents police officers from racially profiling or otherwise discriminating against individuals based on their race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and other factors
Establishes how police officers will document and collect data from traffic and pedestrian stops
o Allows individuals stopped by the police to request and receive a report on their stop
o Mandates policies for the use of body-worn cameras
o Protects individuals’ rights to photograph and film the police
Mandates greater transparency and accountability in police-community interactions
o Requires officers to inform drivers of why their vehicle was stopped, sets standards for requiring information from passengers, and codifies policy on individuals driving without a license
o Requires that officers inform individuals of their constitutional right to refuse before asking for consent to a search
o Requires officers in uniform to wear name tags and to show their badge numbers
o Requires officers to provide their name and badge number when conducting stops and searches. Allows members of the public to ask for a business card with the name and badge number of an officer
o Requires the Chief of Police to submit quarterly reports to the Providence External Review Authority (PERA) on the data collected from police encounters
Establishes new protections for juveniles, immigrants, and transgender individuals
o Establishes right of transgender individuals to be searched by an officer of their gender identity and requires Police Department to develop policies for handling those searches
o Prohibits officers from inquiring about an individual’s immigration status, and requires officers to accept valid identification from foreign governments
o Sets standards for dealing with individuals lacking proof of identification
o Prohibits officers from photographing juveniles under most circumstances
Improves and codifies policies for use of Gang Database
o Requires the Police Department to establish policies for determining if an individual should be added to the gang database
o Prohibits certain factors, such as race, from being included in the criteria for adding someone to the gang database
o Requires parental notification when anyone under 18 is added to the gang database
o Allows anyone over 18 to ask if they are on the gang database
o Creates both an administrative removal process and a formal appeal process for people who feel they were added to the database in error.
o Requires an annual audit of the gang database to identify any errors and make recommendations for improving its use
Improves language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals
o Requires the Police Department maintain its language access hotline to connect officers with qualified translators
o Requires the use of qualified translators if the officer isn’t fluent in the language spoken (except in emergencies)
o Mandates policies on officer fluency and defining emergencies
o Requires custodial interrogations of LEP individuals be recorded
o Requires vital materials be available in the five most commonly spoken languages in Providence
To become law, the ordinance must be passed twice by the full City Council. Councilors are expected to call the first of two special meetings to vote on the matter later this week.
Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) today hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at Mount Pleasant High School to celebrate the school’s new athletic complex and kick off the first baseball game of the season. The event marked the first time the Mount Pleasant Kilties baseball team has hosted a game on their home turf in years; prior to renovation, the size and condition of the school’s baseball field rendered it unfit and unsafe for league games.
Councilwoman Ryan secured federal CDBG dollars to fund the athletic complex project. She consulted with Mount Pleasant High School Principal Christopher Coleman and Brian Byrnes of the City’s Parks Department to develop a master plan that would address the school’s immediate and long-term needs. Phase I of the project is completed and includes the new baseball field, a multi-purpose field, fencing, tree plantings and a walking path. Phase II will include new tennis courts, which will be moved to accommodate a new soccer field. Gardner-Gerrish Landscape Architects LLC designed the complex and Yardworx was contracted to do the work.
“This is an exciting time for Mt Pleasant baseball,” said Councilwoman Ryan. “I am happy to have been part of a team effort to bring a first-class ball field to Mt Pleasant High School. For years, substandard and unsafe field conditions left the Kilties without a home to call their own. Let’s take time to celebrate this win, while acknowledging that we still have much work ahead of us to provide our young people with the school and athletic facilities they deserve.”
In previous seasons, Mount Pleasant’s baseball team used its home field for practices only; the team was bussed to other locations for home games. According to Principal Coleman, the condition of the previous field didn’t meet the team’s needs, even for practices: the ground was uneven, and the team had to adjust to playing on larger fields during games. The new field, said Coleman, is a big morale boost for the team and cuts bussing expenses.
“Mount Pleasant High School is extremely grateful to Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan for the construction of our new baseball field and the improvements she has made to our athletic complex,” said Coleman. “Our students will now be able to play on their own field and have a facility that they can be proud of for years to come. We thank Councilwoman Ryan for her efforts to make this dream a reality for our students.”
Councilman Terrence Hassett (Ward 12) will tomorrow host a ribbon cutting and street dedication in honor of Patrick T. Griffin, whose Smith Hill business, Patrick’s Pub, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The naming of Nolan Street to Patrick T. Griffin Way coincides with the pub’s 25th anniversary celebration. The event kicks off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:00 pm, followed by an afternoon of entertainment from John Connors and the Irish Express.
“Patrick is an exemplary business owner and community leader,” said Councilman Hassett. “His twenty-five years in Providence have deepened the city’s Irish culture and contributed to Smith Hill’s small business economy. Our community has always been a welcoming home to immigrants, and Patrick’s Pub embodies that tradition. While Patrick’s Pub is authentically Irish, it also serves as a mecca for the heritage and traditions of so many countries that are represented in Providence. The culture at Patrick’s is enlightening and reflects what America is all about.”
Patrick, a native of Ireland’s County Roscommon, came to America in 1984 for a construction job in Boston. In 1992, Patrick became a US Citizen, moved to Providence, and opened Patrick’s Pub on Smith Street. The Smith Hill establishment quickly became a popular gathering spot for neighbors and politicians alike, and Patrick eventually expanded the pub to accommodate family events and fundraisers. Today, the pub even serves as the headquarters for a few cultural organizations, including the Providence Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Ireland’s 32 Society, and the 1916 Committee. Patrick is also widely credited for reinstating the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which had become defunct for a number of years prior to his arrival.
“I’m so happy I chose to come to America, start a family, and become a successful business owner. I’m proudly living the American dream, just as so many Irish immigrants did before me,” said Patrick. “It is a great honor to have a street in Providence, Rhode Island named after me. God bless America and God bless Ireland.”
Tomorrow’s events are open to the public and begin at 1:00 pm at Patrick’s Pub, 381 Smith Street, Providence.
