Providence City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) hosted a ceremony on Saturday to name the Providence Ward 5 recreation center after long-time community volunteer, coach, and public servant Armand E. Batastini Jr. Councilwoman Ryan was joined by 100’s of Batastini’s former players, colleagues, friends, and elected officials to help honor this amazing son of Providence.
“I’m humbled to honor Armand E. Batastini Jr. with this much-deserved recognition,” stated City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan. “Armand has been a force for good in the state of Rhode Island and the city of Providence for decades – not just from his 60-years of coaching young people in basketball or from being the founder of the Elmhurst Little League, but as a public servant as well. He serves as an inspiration to me and countless others in our pursuit to serve the people of Providence and the great state of Rhode Island. It’s for these reasons that I’m grateful to be able to ensure that his legacy will live on with the naming of the Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center for the decades to come. Congratulations Coach!”
Today’s dedication included remarks from the very Reverend Kenneth R. Letoile, O.P. Dominican Provincial, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Mayor Jorge Elorza, City Council President David Salvatore, City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, Providence Police Chief, Colonel Hugh Clements, and Batastini’s daughter Christina. In addition, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Jim Langevin, and Governor Gina Raimondo all sent well wishes recognizing Batastini for his lifelong commitment to the youth of Providence.
Batastini is a lifelong resident of Rhode Island and has been an active member in the Ward 5 community for many years. He served as the Rhode Island State Representative for District 8, which included the Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Providence, from 1977 to 1992, working as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims and the Vice-Chairperson on the Health, Education and Welfare Committee. In addition to his nearly 20-years in public office, he spent 36 years in the Providence School Department as a student support specialist. Over his long and illustrious career, he has been very involved in youth sports, founding and acting as a board member for the Elmhurst Little League and coaching St. Pius CYO basketball teams for over 60 years. Known as “Coach” to many, he currently serves as Chairman of the 5th Ward Democratic Committee and Vice Chair of the Democratic City Committee.
Armand E. Batastini Jr. and his wife Mary are the proud parents of four children and five grandchildren. He is a Navy veteran, a graduate of Providence College and holds a Master’s Degree from Boston University in Physical Education.
Council President David A. Salvatore’s Equal Pay ordinance passed its first reading tonight. The Ordinance prohibits employers from asking potential candidates for their past pay history, aiming to end the systematic discrimination of women being paid less than their male counterparts in Providence.
“If two equally capable people are doing the same job, it is reasonable to expect that they should earn the same salary. However, according to data from the U.S. Census, sadly that is not the case: women in the United States earn about 84 cents for every dollar their male counterparts are paid,” said Providence City Council President David A. Salvatore. “This ordinance sends a strong message that in Providence, we are all equal.”
Council President Salvatore’s ordinance makes it unlawful for any employer to inquire about a prospective employee’s compensation history, require disclosures of compensation history, condition employment or consent of interview for employment on disclosure of compensation history, or retaliate against a prospective employee for failing to comply with any compensation history inquiry.
Any employer or employment agency that violates this ordinance will be liable to the individual affected for damages incurred, as well as punitive damages. Those affected can seek damages in court, and the City Solicitor may also bring suit against violators to collect damages on behalf of the affected individuals.
In June of 2017, Council President Salvatore introduced a resolution to establish the Providence Equal Pay Task Force within the Providence Human Relations Commission. This seven-member panel is charged to promote equal pay for equal work through studying best practices from other municipalities, collecting data from City contractors and departments, and making policy recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council. In early January, the Task Force shared an interim annual report with the City Council and plan to have their full report with recommendations completed by the end of 2018.
The ordinance was passed on its first reading and will require a second reading and passage to become law.
Council President David A. Salvatore is pleased to announce that Gina Costa has been elected as the City’s new Internal Auditor. This marks the first time that a woman has been appointed to this position in the history of Providence. Ms. Costa takes over the role from Matthew Clarkin Jr., who retired earlier this month.
“Gina is the perfect choice for this position,” stated Council President David A. Salvatore. “She has worked in the Internal Auditor’s office since 2015 and understands the important and complex role this position plays in support of our city. And, on the same evening my equal pay ordinance passed its first reading by the Council, it is gratifying to know that the Providence City Council isn’t just talking the talk – we are actively trying to engage a diverse, well-rounded staff.”
“I wholeheartedly agree that Gina Costa is uniquely qualified for the position of Internal Auditor for the City of Providence,” said Council Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi. “Gina has a proven track record of effective financial management at the city level, and I know that she will lead the office with integrity.”
Ms. Costa comes to the position with 17 years of experience with the City of Providence, having served as an auditor/budget analyst in the Internal Auditor’s office since 2015. Previously, she spent over a decade managing the fiscal operations for the Department of Public Safety in Providence.
“The Internal Auditor plays an important role in the city’s fiscal well-being, and I’m truly grateful and honored to be appointed to this position,” stated Gina Costa, the newly-appointed Internal Auditor. “I appreciate the support and confidence this Council has in me by providing me with this opportunity.”
The Office of the Internal Auditor independently promotes ethical, efficient and effective governance for the citizens of Providence. The Internal Auditor provides the City Council with objective analyses, appraisals, and recommendations for improvements to the city’s budgets, systems, and activities.
Council President David A. Salvatore and Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris introduced a resolution to establish the Special Committee to Study Homelessness in Providence at tonight’s City Council meeting.
“As elected representatives of the people of Providence, as well as members of this community, we have a moral obligation to help the homeless,” stated City Council President David A. Salvatore. “In order for Providence to be a truly strong city, we must ensure the protections of all people. We must enact policies that will reduce the level of homelessness in our capital City, and I am confident that this committee will work to find solutions that will end homelessness in Providence one day
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), 39% of people experiencing homelessness nationwide are female, 21% are children, and another 10% are between the ages of 18 and 24. While African-Americans are just 13% of the U.S. population, more than 40% of homeless people in the U.S. are African-American. In 2017 the number of unsheltered homeless in America increased 9.4% from 2016 to 2017.
“As an African American woman it is not lost on me that people of color and women experience homelessness at far greater levels than others in our society,” stated Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Ward 11. “I’ve worked my whole career helping people rise out of homelessness, and this opportunity to lead a committee to study and to enact change makes me very proud.”
The Special Committee to Study Homelessness will be composed of:
Providence City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) will host a ceremony to name the Providence Ward 5 recreation center after long-time community volunteer, coach, and public servant Armand E. Batastini Jr. The dedication will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. at 50 Obadiah Brown Road in Providence. The newly named recreation center is located behind the Pleasant View Elementary School.
“I’m humbled to honor Armand E. Batastini Jr. with this much-deserved recognition,” stated City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan. “Armand has been a force for good in the state of Rhode Island and the city of Providence for decades. Not just from his 60-years of coaching young people in basketball or from being the founder of the Elmhurst Little League, but as a public servant as well. He serves as an inspiration to me and countless others in our pursuit to serve the people of Providence and the great state of Rhode Island. It’s for these reasons that I’m grateful to be able to ensure that his legacy will live on with the naming of the Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center for the decades to come. Congratulations Coach!”
Batastini is a lifelong resident of Rhode Island and has been an active member in the Ward 5 community for many years. He served as the Rhode Island State Representative for District 8, which included the Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Providence, from 1977 to 1992, working as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims and the Vice-Chairperson on the Health, Education and Welfare Committee. In addition to his nearly 20-years in public office, he spent 36-years in the Providence School Department as a student support specialist. Over his long and illustrious career, he has been very involved in youth sports, founding and acting as a board member for the Elmhurst Little League and coaching St. Pius CYO basketball teams for over 60 years. Known as Coach to many, he currently serves as Chairman of the 5th Ward Democratic Committee and Vice Chair of the Democratic City Committee.
Armand E. Batastini Jr. and his wife Mary are the proud parents of four children and five grandchildren. He is a Navy veteran, a graduate of Providence College and holds a Master’s Degree from Boston University in Physical Education.
The Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center provides safe quality after-school programming for neighborhood children to participate in sports, get homework help, receive tutoring services, and have a healthy meal. They offer basketball, wrestling, indoor and outdoor soccer, year-round swim for students and even adult and senior swim.
There will be a reception, hosted by the family, following the dedication ceremony from 5 pm – 7 pm at The Jake (Ladder 133) located at 133 Douglas Avenue in Providence.
