Tonight, Providence City Council members convened for the swearing-in of Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) as part of a special council meeting. Councilors also took the opportunity to hold the victims of the Brown University shooting this past weekend in their prayers.
Councilors honored the memories of Brown students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, and acknowledged the others injured in the shooting, the first responders working tirelessly since Saturday, and everyone impacted by the past weekend’s tragedy.
“We come together tonight with heavy hearts… We ask for healing for those who were injured and peace for all who were shaken,” said Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1). “Providence has faced hardship before, and each time we’ve shown who we are. We are resilient. We look out for each other. We don’t turn away from pain, and we don’t allow fear to define us.”
“We have a profound obligation to our constituents to pursue the truth,” added Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13), encouraging her fellow councilors to help stop the spread of misinformation in support of the ongoing investigation. “Our office is here to serve you, to provide any information your constituents might need.”
Councilor Davidson won the Ward 2 special election on December 3rd. The election followed the September resignation of her predecessor, Councilwoman Helen Anthony. Ward 2 includes the College Hill, Wayland, and Blackstone neighborhoods, including much of Brown University’s campus. Councilor Davidson and her husband Kevin have lived in the Blackstone neighborhood in Providence for more than 20 years and are the proud parents of three adult sons.
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult week for Ward 2,” said Councilor Davidson. “I feel immensely grateful that I can be there for my neighbors at this time and look forward to continuing to serve my community in the new year.”
Councilor Davidson currently serves as Director of Development and Communications at the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and serves on the boards of the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Rhode Island Chapter. She has held long-term leadership positions with multiple parent-teacher organizations in Providence, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School PTO, Nathan Bishop Middle School PTO, and the Classical High School Community Association.
Councilor Davidson received her A.B. from Brown University and her M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Visit Davidson’s profile for more information.
Councilors also granted second and final passage to an ordinance supporting the Mile of History project, which authorizes financing for major infrastructure upgrades to Benefit Street, known as one of Providence’s most historic corridors. Benefit Street and its accompanying attractions see 300,000 tourists each year. Nearly 40% of the stretch of sidewalk has been determined to be difficult to traverse, while over 300 feet is considered impassable. The project will repair cracked sidewalks, replace missing bricks, restore tree wells, and ensure ADA accessibility.
“I am deeply grateful to all of the partners who made this possible, including Council President Miller, Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Mayor Smiley and the administration, the Mile of History, and all of my colleagues who believed in the merits of this project,” said Councilman Goncalves. “This bond is not just for the East Side. It represents an economic investment in one of the most historically significant streets in our country, which truly benefits every neighborhood, every resident and every visitor to our great city. I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocating tooth-and-nail to ensure this is one of many meaningful infrastructure and sidewalk improvements in neighborhoods across Providence.”
The meeting also included appointments, reappointments, and elections to the Juvenile Hearing Board, Providence External Review Authority, Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council, Probate Court, and the Sustainability Commission.
The meeting adjourned with a moment of silence for Umurzokov and Cook.
The first regularly scheduled council meeting of 2026 will take place on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
