by Abigail Appel | Apr 16, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7
The first budget to be passed under the leadership of Council President John J. Igliozzi Esq.
The Providence City Council passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget of $510 million at the April 15 City Council meeting. This is the first City budget to be passed under the leadership of Council President John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7). The budget will be signed into effect by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.
“After serving as the Chairman of the Committee on Finance for fourteen years, I am proud to be joining my Council colleagues in passing the first budget in my tenure as City Council President, which reflects the current and future financial needs and goals of the City of Providence. We have listened to residents and stakeholders, and we have built a budget which makes room for modern initiatives such as the ‘Go Team’ Diversionary Program, while also responsibly addressing long term issues such as the pension crisis,” stated Council President John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7).
The Fiscal Year 2021 Budget includes $130 million in funding for the Providence Public School Department, as proposed by Mayor Elorza. Additionally, the budget creates a grant funded department to support the American Recovery Act COVID-19 Stimulus package of $130 million and allocates funding to Family Services of Rhode Island for a new “Go Team” Diversionary Program. There will be no City tax increases and commercial tax rates will remain the same.
“Now more than ever, it is crucial that our tax payer dollars be spent wisely. This has been a difficult year, which has exposed many new challenges for Providence residents and our City as a whole. I would like to thank Council President Igliozzi, my colleagues, the City Council finance team and the administration’s finance team who have all worked together to create a fiscal strategy that will keep our City moving forward and will keep money in the pockets of the hard-working men and women who call Providence home,” added Finance Committee Vice-Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5).
In accordance with the requests of Mayor Jorge Elorza, the FY 2021 budget also funds the contractual increase of $2.78 million to Providence Police Department including a 4.5% wage increase. The budget also provides a 2% wage increase for all City union and non-union employees and a 2.75% wage increase for the Providence Fire Department. The budget also ensures that the City will make 100% of its obligated pension payment and increase the City’s rainy day fund by $100,000 to $15 million.
“The obstacles that our City and our nation have faced in the past year have left many families, businesses and municipalities in a place of financial uncertainty. We have worked hard to create a budget that will ensure sustainable economic growth in our City for residents, business owners and City operations. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in government to keep propelling our City forward,” added Council President Igliozzi.
To view all budget documents, click here: https://bit.ly/PVD2021-Budget.
Council President Igliozzi signs Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
by Abigail Appel | Apr 16, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-5, Ward-7, Ward-8
At last night’s City Council meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a change to the Providence Code of Ordinances which would require a building official to provide written notice to their City Council representative upon the issuance of a demolition permit. This ordinance was co-sponsored by Council President John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7), Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8), Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), and Councilor David Salvatore (Ward 14).
“Recently, a beloved building in the Fox Point neighborhood was demolished, to the surprise of myself and the local community. Not only was this demolition project an inconvenience to residents of the area, it also was at the location of the former Duck & Bunny; a landmark of the Fox Point neighborhood,” stated Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
Under current City law, building officials are not required to notify the City Council or the local neighborhood when a demolition permit has been issued. The proposal would require that written notice be given to the Council representative. This will allow for proper communication to be made between various City Departments, and ensure that residents and businesses surrounding the demolition site are made aware of the upcoming operations in their neighborhood.
“As a City, we work best when communication is open and reliable. As a City Councilman, I know I can better serve my constituents when I am aware of all developments in our Ward. Residents of any neighborhood deserve to know about major plans for construction or demolition which could affect their property, quality of life, safety or the integrity of our neighborhood. Moving forward, I hope this ordinance will encourage an open line of communication between building officials, City operations and residents,” added Councilman Goncalves.
The ordinance has been referred to the Committee on Ordinances for further review.
by Abigail Appel | Apr 14, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-7
At a special meeting of the Providence City Council, Councilman John J. Igliozzi, Esq. (Ward 7), was elected by the majority of his peers to serve as the body’s President. In addition, the Council also elected Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) as Council President Pro Tempore. Each will hold this position for the remainder of this current term which will conclude in January of 2023.
“I want to thank my colleagues for putting their support in me during this time of transition. As the longest-serving member of the Council, I want to ensure that when many of us step down in 2023 that there is not only a transfer of power but a transfer of institutional knowledge. In my capacity as Council President, I plan to work every day to ensure that the City Council continues the important work of creating a stronger and fiscally stable Providence. We are committed to advocating for new jobs, new development, affordable housing, and ensuring that the essential quality of life services that our taxpayers expect is further enhanced. I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to congratulate our outgoing Council President Sabina Matos, who today was approved by the Rhode Island Senate to serve as our State’s next Lieutenant Governor. We wish her well and are grateful for her service to the Council,” stated Council President Igliozzi.
During his time on the Council, President Igliozzi has been laser-focused on the myriad of fiscal issues that Providence has faced and has worked to improve his residents’ everyday quality of life. He has served as the Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Finance since 2007 and has been a staunch advocate for tax and pension reform – both before and during his time as Chairman. He has also served as a member of several committees and commissions during his more than two decades-long tenure.
Council President Igliozzi has represented the Hartford and Silver Lake neighborhoods of Providence since 1997. He is a lifelong resident of Silver Lake and is deeply entrenched in his community. During his time in public service, he has spearheaded and allocated funding for several major community infrastructure and quality of life enhancements for the residents of Ward 7. These projects include thousands of initiatives from roads, sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, and two new schools. He was instrumental in bringing Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Elementary School, a highly ranked charter school, to the Silver Lake neighborhood. President Igliozzi has also made significant investments in community resources such as the Reading Express Library at the Silver Lake Community Center, neighborhood water parks, playgrounds, the first skateboard park in Providence, and the soccer field’s modernization at Merino Park – now home to the Capitol Youth Soccer League.
In his professional life, Council President Igliozzi is an attorney. His family has a long history of public service, beginning with his late father Vincent, who served as Chairman of the 7th Ward Committee, his late mother Dolores, who served on the Rhode Island State Democratic Committee, his sister Angelica, and his brother and former Councilman, Judge David Igliozzi. He is the proud father of two sons, both of whom still live in the same Silver Lake neighborhood where President Igliozzi grew up.
The Council also elected Councilman Pedro Espinal as Council President Pro Tempore. The President Pro Tempore serves as acting President in the absence of the Council President.
“I am honored that my colleagues have entrusted me to carry out this new role. The Council is at an inflection point, and there is much to be done. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of not only my community but for all the residents of Providence. We have endured so much in the past year, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am committed to working together with my Council colleagues to address the many issues our City is facing – from getting our residents vaccinated, making affordable housing a priority, and working to end food insecurity in our City. As Councilors, we are often the ones that our residents reach out to when they need help, and many of those requests are quality of life of issues. Together this body will address the most pressing needs of our residents, and I look forward to the work ahead,” stated Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal.
President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal was elected in 2019 to serve the South Providence and Washington Park neighborhoods of Providence. Pro Tem Espinal has been an advocate for his residents. In his tenure on the Council, he has spearheaded several important pieces of legislation to ensure green and vital initiatives in the Port of Providence, amongst other quality of life issues. He has been a resident of Providence since 1978 and lives in the Washington Park neighborhood with his family.
Also, Council President Igliozzi has named City Treasurer James Lombardi III, Esq., CPA, to serve as the Acting Chief of Staff of the Providence City Council. In addition to his role as City Treasurer, Mr. Lombardi will manage the City Council staff and departments’ day-to-day operations. In addition to the Council’s administrative office, the City Council oversees the Treasury Department, Office of the Internal Auditor, Probate Court, Municipal Court, Providence City Archives, and the City Clerks Department.
by Abigail Appel | Apr 8, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
Today, Councilman Michael J. Correia (Ward 6) has announced a partnership with the YMCA of Greater Providence, Manton Heights Housing Development, Providence Housing Authority, the Nonviolence Institute, and Amos House “More Than A Meal” catering company to provide healthy and nutritious meals to the families who live in the Manton Heights Housing Development.
“Food insecurity is an ever-growing concern not just in my community but around the state. We learned last year that one in four families in the State of Rhode Island are food insecure, and I am proud to have worked to bring together these amazing community partners to ensure that the families in Manton Heights can access healthy meals. In 2021, families going hungry is a sad reality, but we can all work together to make a change. I’m excited to be part of the solution for my neighbors,” stated Councilman Michael J. Correia.
The program will begin on April 12, 2021 and run through August 31, 2021. It will be part of the after-school programming that the YMCA site located at the Robert L. Bailey IV Elementary School on Gordon Avenue in Providence does weekly. Meals will be delivered on Mondays and Thursday’s from More Than A Meal catering company, an Amos House program, for youth up to the age of 18.
“It is with great pleasure to be able to partner with Manton Heights, Councilman Correia, and the POH team to be able to provide youth with meal support. Supporting the community in which we serve in any way we can is always the main goal. This initiative was able to kick-off due to the advocacy of one Joseph Shepard. With his passion and dedication to the community, he grew up in (Manton Heights) Joseph Shepard reached out to me about the support needed in the Manton Heights community,” stated Marcus Washington of the YMCA of Greater Providence.
Families will register for the program with the Resident Service Coordinator at Manton Heights. There will also be a waiting list to ensure that as many families can access the program as possible. Grant dollars are funding the program, and the partnering organizations will be coordinating the food distribution.
“PHA is grateful for Councilman Correia’s leadership in bringing the partners together to serve our families, and to the YMCA, the Non-violence Institute and Amos House for your support and commitment,” said Melissa Sanzaro, Executive Director of the Providence Housing Authority. “This is one more example of how housing can be a platform for health and well-being.”
To access the program, families will go to a central location in the Manton Heights Housing Development to pick up the “Grab & Go” meals. The process will be seamless, and all volunteers will be trained in safe food delivery techniques and protocols.
Councilman Correia continued, “I want to thank the YMCA of Greater Providence, the Providence Housing Authority, the Nonviolence Institute, Amos House, and the City Council staff who have worked so hard to bring this program to fruition. I look forward to continuing advocating for the members of my community and helping provide quality of life programming that is essential to their well-being.”
Councilman Correia has been a long-time advocate for Manton Heights’ families and has been dedicated to ensuring that the young residents have access to after-school programming and other essential services.
by Abigail Appel | Apr 7, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
On Monday April 5, Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) awarded the Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial Committee a City Council grant of $25 thousand to create enhanced security and to provide for future upkeep of the monument located on River Walk along Memorial Drive.
In 2018, there was serious damage done to this iconic monument and these funds will go to help create safeguards to protect the monument from further vandalism or destruction for the years to come.
“On behalf of the Providence City Council I am honored to present this award intended to support and protect this poignant memorial in the heart of our Capital City.
This memorial is a beautiful piece of art designed to educate and honor those who decades ago; concurred, starving and cast aside, struggled to seek a new life; it’s the original American Exceptionalism story; a grand triumph over tragedy, only to be repeated by countless others in pursuit of the American Dream,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5)
The Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial had suffered major damage in August 2018 from vandalism and theft at the site. Several of the Bronze Plaques on the Historical Narrative Wall, which tell the story of Ireland’s Great Famine and its consequences, were stolen.
Dr. Donald D. Deignan, President of the Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial Committee, Inc added, “We, as a Committee and as representatives of Rhode Island ‘s entire Irish-American community, are all deeply grateful to City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan—and to all her colleagues—for their generous financial support of our ongoing efforts to enhance security measures at the Famine Memorial site located along the Riverwalk in Downtown Providence. Improved lighting, and other security devices which these Community Grant Funds will enable us to install, will better protect the Famine Memorial from further vandalism and theft and preserve our complex and deeply meaningful Monument for many generations of visitors to come,”.
The immediate damage has been fixed. However, there are plans for ongoing maintenance and increased security.
Mary Smith of the Irish Famine Memorial Committee shared, “The grant we received will not only allow us to enhance the security to protect our memorial but will hopefully help deter damage to other memorials along River Walk. Our Committee strives to present and preserve a tribute to an important piece of Irish history for residents and visitors alike. In doing so, we also recognize the importance of respecting the culture, heritage and traditions of the many immigrants that call our Country home.”
To learn more about the Irish Famine Memorial, please visit www.rifaminememorial.com.
