City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward Six) has called on the companies behind JUMP Bikes, Bird Scooters, and Lime Scooters to remove them from Manton and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods until a community meeting can be scheduled in September.
“I have received numerous daily complaints about these bikes and scooters being left on sidewalks, blocking walkways and driveways, and being a hazard for those with mobility issues,” stated Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “I have even had complaints of bikes being vandalized by young people. I believe that we need to provide alternate and economical forms of transportation across the city, but I’m concerned that a safety plan or retrieval plan are not in place. I will be inviting representatives from these companies, and the City departments that oversee these partnerships to join me for a meeting in September to hear from the community directly.”
JUMP Bikes, an affiliate of UBER, began to appear in cities around the world in 2013, followed by Bird and Lime E-Scooters which popped up in the San Francisco area in 2017 before going global. They first appeared in Providence in 2018.
President Pro Tempore Correia is a co-sponsor, along with lead sponsor Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, and other co-sponsors Council President Sabina Matos, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr, and Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, of a resolution that was passed on July 18, 2019 that calls upon the City to conduct a formal and thorough analysis of the JUMP Bikes, Bird and Lime e-Scooters programs and prepare a formal report to be submitted to the Council for review within 30-days.
I have learned that Councilman Luis A. Aponte has entered into a plea agreement and will resign as a member of the Providence City Council, a post he held for more than two decades.
As public servants, we are held to a higher standard and Councilman Aponte’s resignation is a necessary and important step forward as we continue to focus on creating greater opportunities and improving quality of life for Providence’s residents and taxpayers.
Sabina Matos, President, Providence City Council, Councilwoman – Ward 15
Me he enterado que el Concejal Luis Aponte ha llegado a un acuerdo con la fiscalía y renunciara inmediatamente como miembro del Concejo Municipal de Providence, cargo que ocupó durante más de dos décadas.
Como servidores públicos, estamos sujetos a mantener un estándar más alto, la renuncia del Concejal Aponte es un paso necesario e importante hacia adelante mientras seguimos enfocados en crear mayores oportunidades para mejorar la calidad de vida de los constituyentes de Providence.
Sabina Matos, Presidenta, el Consejo Municipal Providence, Concejal – Distrito 15
Statement from City Council President Sabina Matos and the City Council Leadership Team Regarding the States’ Takeover of the Providence City School District:
In the aftermath of the Providence Public School District Community Forums and on the eve of a state takeover of our public school district, the City Council remains committed to playing a collaborative role in our children’s educational future.
We look forward to the opportunity to work in partnership with RIDE and to help foster solutions that will improve educational outcomes for our kids.
Despite the Mayor not being communicative or transparent with the Council in these preliminary stages of this process, we remain unwavering in our shared responsibilities to provide students with safer and cleaner school buildings, a more relevant and rigorous curriculum, and a quality of education that sets them up for success.
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Council President Sabina Matos
Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia
Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
Ward 13 Councilwoman, Rachel Miller, introduced an ordinance tonight that calls for a one-year moratorium on any new late-night (2:00 AM) operating, liquor or entertainment licenses in the Federal Hill Neighborhood. She was joined by co-sponsors Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), and Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11).
“Let me be clear, this ordinance does not affect any existing businesses with existing track records on the Hill, just new businesses coming online in the next year,” stated Councilwoman Rachel Miller. “We need a citywide policy to take on the problems that exist when nightclubs co-exist in our residential neighborhoods. During this one-year moratorium, I will be working with my colleagues in city government, including the City’s Board of Licenses, to propose and vet policy solutions that server everyone in our city. I have heard from many residents and business owners regarding their concerns of problems related to club activities, even when clubs are operating with the best of intentions and with the best security protocols, problems still occur.”
Councilwoman Miller continued, “Federal Hill is a unique neighborhood in Providence, but the problems with night clubs in a residential neighborhood are not unique to Federal Hill. We need to come together citywide to craft legislation that works for every neighborhood. Federal Hill is a jewel in Providence, for the tourists who visit, for the businesses and restaurants, and for the hundreds of residents who call Federal Hill home. Tonight, we took a step together to create peace of mind and peace while we work together in City government and with our neighborhoods to create a citywide solution.”
The amendment to Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances will take effect upon second passage by the full Council, and will immediately put into effect a one-year moratorium on any new 2:00 AM operating or liquor license on Atwells Avenue and adjoining streets in the Federal Hill Neighborhood.
Council President Sabina Matos stated, “I am in complete support of Councilwoman Miller’s ordinance. It is fair, reasonable, and a thoughtful approach to addressing quality of life issues that happen when nightclubs are operating in residential neighborhoods. I look forward to working with her and our colleagues on how we can better protect our neighbors, preserve our unique communities, and foster greater relationships with existing and new businesses that want to open in our neighborhoods.
Tonight, I introduced a resolution calling on the administration to complete a formal and thorough analysis of the JUMP Bikes, Bird and Lime e-Scooters. I am seeking a review of the contracts, internal controls, and program operations so that we can fully analyze the benefits and shortcomings that these are having in our community.
We understand the benefits that having access to alternative transportation provides in our urban center, but we must examine how these particular products are affecting the quality of life in our City.
I, along with my colleagues, have received calls from residents and business owners about bikes or scooters being left in front of properties, blocking driveways and walkways, and having many ‘close calls’ on our roadways.
I hope that the City can provide the Council with a thorough analysis to make sure that these modes of transportation are benefiting our community and not causing unintended harm to the quality of life that our residents deserve.
