Statement from City Council President Sabina Matos on Nightlife Issues in the City of Providence

Statement from City Council President Sabina Matos on Nightlife Issues in the City of Providence

Last Thursday, the City Council approved a resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Ryan to engage a consultant to provide an updated evaluation of the Board of Licenses. Last Thursday I also announced the creation of a Night Life Working Group to assess the numerous issues affecting the City’s night-time businesses, identify tools to preserve public safety and residential peace, and to ensure the enjoyment of the City’s nighttime arts and entertainment options. These are just a couple of options my leadership team is exploring to help curb the night-time violence in our City.

The working group will be comprised of stakeholders that include public safety officials, members from the Board of Licenses, the City Council, business owners, and community members. It is important that we understand the needs of our business owners and neighbors before we make any substantive changes moving forward.

The one thing that is clear, however, is that we can’t afford to wait any longer. We can’t sit idly by while our City suffers night after night and families wake up to headline after headline about a random stabbing or shooting. No price tag, time commitment, or effort is ever enough to provide our families the peace of mind they expect and deserve from their local government.

That said, I am happy to hear how engaged my colleagues have been in this discussion, but I think we are putting the cart before the horse. We need to fully understand the scope and overriding issues around nightlife culture before we move forward with any major initiatives.

Councilman David Salvatore Calls for Exploring a City  “Office of Nightlife and Culture”

Councilman David Salvatore Calls for Exploring a City “Office of Nightlife and Culture”

Last month, Councilman David A. Salvatore posted polls on Facebook and Twitter for constituent feedback regarding a potential Providence “Office of Nightlife and Culture.” Fifty-four percent of Facebook respondents and 63 percent of respondents on Twitter agreed that the city should explore creating a similar best practice.

In recent months there has been an uptick in violence surrounding nightlife in Providence, and Councilman Salvatore has been a strong advocate in addressing these issues. “The Board of Licenses has done a great deal of work on addressing long-standing issues,” stated Councilman David A. Salvatore. “It has become clear to me that our City’s elected leaders need to do more, and we need to look at best practices in other cities.”

Councilman Salvatore shared an article on social media from CityLab.com (https://bit.ly/2lY0rPX) which explained how several major cities are addressing the issues that come from nightlife entertainment. Salvatore said, “There is no reason why Providence should reinvent the wheel time and time again. Considering best practices and what is working in other municipalities can help us create a safe nightlife culture that works for us and already has been tested.”

Cities like New York, Pittsburgh, Orlando and other municipalities around the world have created departments to address nightlife culture. Each city referenced in the CityLab article interacts with its departments differently, but the overarching theme is that these departments are in place to liaise with business owners, city officials, and public safety officials. Salvatore continued, “In Providence, we have responsible business owners who have been successful at mitigating issues, and they do so voluntarily, with little fiscal impact. I think of Anthony Santurri and the late Chris Harris, who embraced the responsibility that comes with owning a nightlife venue. Anthony created a handbook that addresses everything from operations to de-escalating fights, and he ensures that all his employees have it in handed before they begin employment. I believe that’s why he doesn’t encounter issues of violence inside or outside of his venue. I think he has lots to share.”

Councilman Salvatore continued, “I am very happy to see that my colleague Councilwoman Kat Kerwin and community advocate Travis Escobar have taken this situation seriously. I look forward to working with them on this important quality of life issue.”

Councilman Salvatore is calling on his colleagues on the City Council to look further than spending tax-payer dollars on unnecessary consultants and attorneys and is encouraging the Elorza Administration to explore best practices that are working in cities around the world.

City Council Calls for Review of Board of Licenses and Creates a Working Group to Explore Nightlife Culture

City Council Calls for Review of Board of Licenses and Creates a Working Group to Explore Nightlife Culture

The City Council tonight announced initiatives to review the processes and procedures to review the Board of Licenses, and to also set up a working group to address the issues surrounding nightlife that we are facing in Providence.

This Council will be engaging the services of a local law firm to look at the processes and procedures of the Board of Licensees from the top down. In 2016 the Council engaged former Attorney General Jeffrey Pine to do a comprehensive overview, and this is a continuation of that process. In addition, the Council is also pulling together a working group of nightlife business owners, public safety officials, and elected officers to come together to discuss best practices.

The Pine Report, as it has been called, was compiled to assess the Board of Licenses’ adjudication process and to equip the board members with tools for best practices.

Council President Sabina Matos stated, “We must provide a framework for our nightlife businesses to operate with the know-how of how to handle and deescalate issues that might arise at their establishments. Working with Anthony Santurri, a pioneer in Providence’s nightlife scene, the Council believes that we can find solutions to the challenges that our City is currently facing. I commend my colleagues for making real and quantifiable change in our City.”

“As a freshman Councilor I advocated for a balance of opportunities for business owners and the quality of life of our residents,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “The Council initiated a complete review of the Board of Licenses and it is apparent to me that we need to do more. With the recent uptick in violence associated around clubs in our City I believe we are ready to revisit these issues. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make changes that benefit businesses and the community alike.”

The Council has been outspoken on its desire to promote a healthy business environment throughout the City, and one that serves the needs of neighborhood residents. More and more there are neighborhood restaurants that are also operating as entertainment venues at night, and the result has been an onslaught of issues affecting the quality of life for residents.

The working group to review nightlife best practices will come together in the coming weeks. It is the Council’s hope to engage as many constituencies as possible.

City Council Calls for Review of Board of Licenses and Creates a Working Group to Explore Nightlife Culture

City Council Votes to Create Community Choice Electricity Aggregation

The Providence City Council voted tonight to authorize the Mayor and the City’s Office of Sustainability to develop and implement an aggregation plan to allow the residents of Providence to have more control over their electric bills.

According to the EPA, Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), also known as municipal aggregation, are programs that allow local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents. CCAs provide communities that want more local control over their electricity sources, more green power than is offered by the default utility, and lower electricity prices.

“With National Grid slated to raise our electricity rates by 8% this fall we need to offer our residents a way to lessen the burden and I believe community aggregation is a step in the right direction,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5). “Residents across the City saw tax increases on their properties, and even on their income taxes, and an 8% increase on our electricity bills adds up. Allowing the City to buy power in bulk, and buy alternate forms of power is not only the right thing to do, it’s the green thing to do. This is one more step in making Providence a carbon-neutral city by 2050!”

Under Rhode Island state law, CCA programs provide the opportunity to bring the benefits of competitive choice of electric supplier, longer-term price stability and more renewable energy options to the residents and businesses of the City of Providence and other municipalities in Rhode Island. The City Council is in full support of this program and the potential monetary and environmental benefits to our community.

Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) stated, “My neighbors are worried, they are worried about how are they going to pay their electric bill and keep food on the table. An increase of 8% will harm my neighbors, especially my elderly neighbors who are on a fixed income, and young families. I love the idea that residents will have a choice of a provider and not forced into using one source for their electricity.”

With tonight’s resolution the City Council authorizes the Mayor to engage a consultant with experience in developing and administering CCA programs to assist the City in the creation and operation of an aggregation plan and CCA program provided that the City shall not be required to draw upon the General Fund to compensate such consultant.

“I am very happy to be a co-sponsor of this important piece of legislation,” stated Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2). “No matter where you live you should be able to have a choice regarding your electric service provider. Many residents want an option to buy electricity that is greener – such as solar or wind generated power – and they should have that option. This is a great step forward in embracing the green economy.”

The Office of Sustainability will provide regular updates to the full City Council regarding the development and implementation of the aggregation plan and CCA program.

My Turn: Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune

My Turn: Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune

One of our nation’s most significant challenges has been providing a high-quality public education that serves all children, and this challenge has been particularly acute in our urban communities.

Over decades the Providence Public Schools have invested in changes — new curriculum, new professional development, new schools, new tests — yet has failed to significantly shift outcomes. Close to half of our students perform below proficiency in math and English, and about half of our high school students missed at least 10% of the last school year.

So why has our district, and so many others, under-performed for so long? I would argue that our public education system is built on a foundation of deep, systemic oppression that cannot be addressed with an isolated approach. The structure of public education in the United States has systematically disenfranchised students of color, students with disabilities, students from low-income backgrounds and students who are English language learners. The system that holds the promise of uniting people from diverse communities in an informed democracy has instead sorted students into increasingly divided groups of “haves” and “have-nots.”

As a proud graduate of the Providence public schools and a mother of two children of color in the district, I am ready for change and optimistic about talk of bold action. We need to shake up the entrenched bureaucracy that is holding our schools back. But I am apprehensive about the state taking control of our schools when they lack a demonstrated understanding of our urban communities, their strengths and their needs. For years our state has neglected the urban core, only stepping in for temporary relief without sustainable progress. I know, because I was there.

My parents sent five children through eight Providence public schools, and two of us completed college. As an undocumented immigrant, English language learner, and lead poisoning survivor, study after study suggests I should not be successful. I worked hard, I had parents and teachers who believed in me, and I benefited from resources in and outside of the classroom — programs, people, opportunities — that helped me navigate all kinds of obstacles.

The dire statistics and inspiring mentors are in part what motivated me to study education policy and to run for city council. I am delighted to hear so many voices saying it is time to do right by our schools, but it remains to be seen if we really mean it.

I am already apprehensive about the prospects for real change because plans are being made without the public. The system has systematically failed our kids — my kids — sowing deep mistrust. The way to build enduring change is through a culture that embraces the realities of daily life for our children and families. The way to build enduring change is through transparency and shared trust. The way to build enduring change is by helping students, families and teachers lead.

In example after example nationally, urban district takeovers are top-down, driven by outside experts, and almost universally fail. Separating students, teachers, and families from authority, governance and expertise will limit our success. We have all seen temporary spikes in test scores. The reason our schools continue to fail is that no one has taken the bold step of building long-term community leadership. Providence, with its incredible strengths, could be the first, but only if we set aside short-term political fixes for transparency and true engagement.

Throughout the city, I’ve heard people worry that this process will prioritize politics, not children. They are worried that the plan is being formed behind closed doors.

We cannot deliver a high-quality education for our students if we fail to address the systemic ways that students, families and teachers have been disenfranchised by a public education system that should help them thrive. We should welcome bold action, but not without bold accountability for the people the system serves.

As submitted to the Providence Journal and published online on Wednesday, September 4, 2019

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