Located on the western side of Providence, Silver Lake is home to strong cultural identities in both Italian and Hispanic backgrounds. Silver Lake is a hub for Central American restaurants, bars and markets and is also the site of the annual Feast of Saint Bartholomew; a 3 day celebration in August. The 73 acre Neutaconkanut Park provides residents with public access to nature trails, skate parks, swimming pools and baseball fields.
A Brief History of Silver Lake- Courtesy of the Providence City Archives
In 1710, the Silver Lake/Harford neighborhood — bordered by Johnston and Cranston to the west – came to fruition after constructing the Plainfield Road, which allowed traffic and trade to move freely between Plainfield, Connecticut, and Providence. The neighborhood was demographically rural and populated by a community of farmers, many of whom did not feel Providence, with its growing urban sprawl, represented their agricultural interests. In 1759, with the establishment of the Town of Johnston, Silver Lake was swiftly annexed by the rural town.
Silver Lake earned its namesake from a picturesque body of water that once bordered Murry, Sybil, Mercy, and Plainfield Streets – at the foot of Neutaconkanut Hill, and at one time was a source of recreation. A particular spectacle of note occurred in 1859 when many spectators came to see tightrope walkers take a high-wire stroll over the lake as pictured below:
(courtesy of the Providence City Archives)
By the mid-20th century, the lake was eventually dredged and filled over time to accommodate neighborhood development.
By 1898, Providence annexed back portions of the neighborhood. In 1882, the community’s identity drastically changed from rural to urban with the Plainfield Street Trolley line’s extension. The electric trolley made it possible for factory workers to move to and throw Providence. Soon, farmland turned into triple-decker house lots. European immigrants, specifically Italians, accounted for much of the Silver Lakes’ new demographic. By 1919 Silver Lake became fully incorporated into the City of Providence.
By the end of the nineteenth century, nearly three hundred Italians settled in the areas of Laurel and Neutakonkanut Hill. With them came the establishment of St. Bartholomew’s Church in 1907 on Moorefield Street. A shrine of the church remains in the form of a bell tower named Scalabrini Piazza dedicated to the memory of Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini, responsible for the establishment of “Saint Raphael Association,” dedicated to the care of Italian migrants. 1969 marked the construction of a new church on Laurel Hill Ave. to accommodate the growing number of the neighborhood’s practitioners.
During the decade of the 1990s, 43 percent of Silver Lake comprised of Italian Americans. By the year 2000, beginning a decade prior, Hispanics established a vibrant community in Silver Lake, comprising roughly 42 percent of current day Ward 7’s population. That number has grown exponentially in the last 20 years. The neighborhood also includes a growing Haitian community.
As many have learned, there was a deadly shooting in the Olneyville neighborhood late this morning. I am saddened and disturbed by the senseless act of violence.
This is the second fatal shooting in our City this week, which is two too many. It seems that although crime is down, violent crime continues to rise. These random acts of violence – are never random; and I know that our detectives and dedicated police officers are working to find answers to why and how this happened.
The Providence I know is a City of neighborhoods, a city where families are raised, and new opportunities are around every corner. It is a place where we care for our neighbors, work hard, and support one another. Our residents deserve better.
In light of these most recent violent events, I am more committed than ever to working with our law enforcement agencies, the City Administration, and my colleagues in local and state government to find solutions to the systemic and complex issues facing our City.
As I learn more about today’s incident, I am committed to keeping the public updated, In the meantime, I would like to ask for the public’s support, as the crime is being investigated. If you know, or witnessed or learn anything regarding this tragic shooting, please call the Providence Police Department at 401-272-1111.
Remember, if you see something – say something.
Sabina Matos, President
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 15
Councilwoman Sabina Matos
Today, City Council President Pro Tempore and Ward 6 Councilman Michael Correia announced safety enhancements that will be installed in the coming days.
“Quality of life and safety is paramount for me in addressing the needs of my constituents,” stated Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “This September, we were able to dedicate the new skate park on Manton Avenue, and it sees a great deal of use. The new skate park has quickly become a regional draw, as it has some of the most advanced features in the region. Without ample parking, young and old alike, are having to cross Manton Avenue to gain access, and it’s dangerous. These safety enhancements will certainly make a difference for residents who are going to the park or bike path.”
The safety enhancements will run from the skate park entrance on Manton Avenue and will extend to the Stop & Shop at 850 Manton Avenue. The scope of work includes:
· A New Crosswalk Leading to the Skate Park and Bike Path Entrance
· New Safety Signage
· Safety Markings on Manton Avenue
Pro Tempore Correia continued, “I am thankful to the Department of Public Works for helping ensure that these important safety measures are put in place and look forward to safer travel through this corridor.”
As always, work being done on our city streets in the outdoors is weather permitting. Please be patient, and during the installation phase, you may consider taking other routes.
Tonight, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), and Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) were lead sponsors of a resolution addressing the Rhode Island Community Food Banks’ recently released annual Status Report on Hunger, which highlighted the significant hardship Rhode Islanders are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution is co-sponsored by President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Finance Chairman John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7), Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Councilwoman Nirva R. LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2) Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8), Councilwoman Katherine Kerwin (Ward 12) and Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10).
The Rhode Island Community Food Banks’ annual Status Report on Hunger found that one in four Rhode Island households lack adequate food, which is the highest rate the agency has seen in over two decades. The report noted that food insecurity levels are highest in Black and Latinx communities, which are the very same communities that have been hardest hit by the global pandemic. Due to this overwhelming demand, the Community Food Banks has increased its food distribution by 1.6 million pounds (a 45% increase from before the pandemic).
“This is not just a Rhode Island problem,” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “What the COVID-19 pandemic has done in this Country is exacerbated the already demanding need for food not just in Rhode Island but in every state. It has also shone a light on the massive inequities in our society, where nearly 5.3 million more Americans are unemployed today than they were in February of this year. Rhode Island was not immune to that alarming statistic, which is why in the early days of the pandemic, I reached out to George Ortiz of The Elisha Project to work with the Council to help bring food to Providence’s most struggling communities. Through our partnership with the Elisha Project, the Council hosted 24 food distribution events across the City. We were able to provide approximately 816 thousand pounds of culturally appropriate nutritious meals or the equivalent of 680 thousand meals to our most vulnerable residents. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Ortiz for the work he is doing in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to address the food insecurity that too many families are facing.”
The resolution is calling on the Federal government to pass another COVID-19 relief bill that would bring back the supplemental unemployment compensation and boost SNAP benefits for individuals until the pandemic subsides. It also calls for the USDA to provide Pandemic-EBT benefits for all children from low-income families when schools are closed.
Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan stated, “This is an alarming statistic; if more than one in four people statewide are food insecure as stated in this recent report, we know the ratio is much higher in our urban core. The City Council initiative to provide immediate assistance to our struggling families is an admirable local level effort. However, we need a COVID Relief Bill passed in Washington without delay. While our federal delegation has been leading the charge in Washington, we need federal relief. The United States Senate has had the opportunity to pass the $2.2 trillion HEROES Act since May and has failed to do so. The stimulus package that my colleagues and I call for in this resolution will not just help those facing food insecurity, but will also address the nearly 20 million renters at risk of losing their homes. It has been eight months since the Senate and House passed the CARES Act, and it is time to put Country over party and pass the HEROES Act to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
Additionally, the resolution calls on the Rhode Island Department of Health and Human Services to implement a comprehensive SNAP outreach program to help newly unemployed Rhode Islanders enroll and gain access to these much-needed services.
“The RI Food Bank report also critically highlights that food insecure Rhode Islanders are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 due to prevalent underlying medical conditions,” stated Councilman John Goncalves. “Additionally, it makes clear the racial and ethnic disparities that exist related to food insecurity, and the fact that disabled adults also experience a higher risk for food insecurity due to healthcare-related expenses and limited employment opportunities which further exacerbate already existing health and economic disparities.
We are seeing record levels of demand from food-insecure Providence and Rhode Island residents, low-income families and children, which demonstrates that critical funding and assistance is needed now, more than ever, to address widespread hunger in our communities.”
The resolution also urges the Rhode Island General Assembly to support Governor Gina Raimondo’s call for increased funding for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris stated, “I know what it is to be hungry. I know what it is to decide between buying food for my family and paying the light bill. Our neighbors need help. We live in the land of plenty, but until we have plenty for all, we have plenty for none. I applaud the Elisha Project, the Rhode Island Food Bank, and the work that so many are doing in the City, the State, and across the nation to address food insecurity. But, as the poet Robert Frost so eloquently stated, we have miles to go before we sleep, and this is no time to sleep. Our neighbors here in Providence, and in every city and town in our state and across the country need help. I, like my colleagues, urge the United States Senate to pass the HEROES Act now before they end their session.”
The City Council passed the resolution, and copies of the resolution will be sent to each member of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, Governor Gina Raimondo, Director Courtney Hawkins of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, and to the members of the Providence delegation of the Rhode Island General Assembly.
About the Elisha Project:
The Elisha Project is a movement that is focused on bringing diverse communities together through service, sharing, teaching, and learning. With the mission of addressing food insecurity and operating by the motto, “There is Always Enough to Share.”
Today, City Council President Sabina Matos, Chief Judge Frank Caprio of the Providence Municipal Court, and Mayor Jorge O. Elorza announced an amnesty program of all non-moving and environmental violations in the City of Providence until January 31, 2021.
“Due to the ongoing health crisis, we must act to help our residents in whatever ways we can,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “The Municipal Courts fall under the jurisdiction of the Council, and by waving the penalties on fees that have accrued for residents, we are providing them with a little extra financial help during this difficult time.”
The amnesty program only applies to violations that double and triple due to non-payment, such as environmental, parking, and other non-moving violations. Individuals or entities with a fine must pay in-person at the Providence Safety Complex, located at 325 Washington Street, on the first floor. No online or phone payments will be accepted for this program.
“We know many of our residents have been making tough decisions in order to survive the impacts of COVID-19 ,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza “While we continue to find innovative ways to adjust our way of life, keep our businesses open, and work towards recovery, I am proud to work with the Providence City Council to offer another form of relief for our residents.”
Those who have existing fines will only be required to pay the base fine. Individuals or entities with four or more fines must also pay a $35 court processing fee. This program does not apply to any resident or entity with an environmental fine in collections or any previous municipal court judgments.
Chief Judge Frank Caprio stated, “Our residents are enduring so much right now, and we have the ability to provide direct relief to them through this program. We have thousands of residents out of work, and their ability to pay escalating fines directly impedes their ability to put food on their table and pay other important life-sustaining bills.”
Individuals or entities that do not take advantage of this program before February 1, 2021, will lose the ability to renew their license or vehicle registration, as it will be blocked by the RI Department of Motor Vehicle (RIDMV).
Again, all payments must be made in-person as no online or telephone payments will be accepted.
At this evening’s City Council meeting, the Council passed a resolution establishing this amnesty program. The resolution was proposed by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) and co-sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Councilor David A. Salvatore (Ward 14), Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Councilwoman Nirva R. LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8), Councilwoman Katherine Kerwin (Ward 12), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) and Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
