by Abigail Appel | Jan 7, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-13, Ward-15, Ward-4
Providence City Council President Sabina Matos Announces Decennial Ward Boundary Committee
The Committee Will be the Most Diverse in the Council’s History
Providence City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) tonight announced the creation of the Decennial Ward Boundary Committee, which for the first time in twenty years will be comprised of not only City Councilors but Providence residents as well.
“When I set out to form the Decennial Ward Boundary Committee I was clear that I wanted it to be a combination of sitting Councilors and Providence residents that would each bring a different perspective to how we shape our City’s voting districts with the goal to ensure a fair, inclusive and equitable process in determining the new ward boundaries committees,” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “I also wanted it to be as diverse as possible – including representatives from the African American community and the LGBTQIA+ community to ensure that we had a true cross-section of our diverse population. It’s also notable that the committee is led by a female majority – another first in the Council’s history.”
Every ten years, the City Council is responsible for revising and establishing the City’s ward boundaries. In order to accomplish this task, the Providence Home Rule Charter requires the City Council to convene a Committee on Ward Boundaries that will recommend new ward boundaries based on the most recent United States Census data. The Committee must be comprised of five members who are either members of the Council or qualified individuals who reside within the City of Providence.
In constructing the map of new ward boundaries, the committee on ward boundaries and the city council must insure that the boundaries are drawn in accordance with the following criteria:
(1) Equality of ward populations so far as practicable;
(2) Contiguousness of the territory of each ward;
(3) Wards shall comply with the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1971 and following).
(4) The geographic integrity of local neighborhood; and
(5) Geographical compactness such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant populations.
The Charter requires that the committee hold at least four public meetings, during which public comment will be accepted before creating a proposed map of ward boundaries. After the final plan is completed, it is then submitted to the full Council with a written report of findings and reasons for adoption, which will include: notation of all criteria employed in the process, a full analysis of their work, and a detailed explanation of the committee’s decisions. After these items are received, the City Council must host a public hearing before the plan can be adopted.
The Decennial Ward Boundary Committee will be comprised of:
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., who has served on the City Council since 2006 and whose term will end in December 2022, is an ideal choice for his institutional experience. As a lifelong resident of Providence, his knowledge of the City is unparalleled. Councilman Narducci represents the North End and part of the Wanskuck neighborhoods of Providence.
Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, who was elected to the City Council in 2014, has strong roots in South Providence. She knows the neighborhoods and the south side of the City like no other. Her long and storied career is one of true resilience from being a welder to a community advocate. Her ongoing work to create genuinely affordable housing in Providence will be valuable skills in creating the new ward boundaries. Councilwoman Harris represents the neighborhoods of Upper South Providence and part of the West End.
Councilor Rachel Miller was elected to the City Council in 2018 and has been a fierce advocate for workers’ rights, equitable development, racial and environmental justice. Originally from New York, Miller moved to Providence in 2003 and quickly became involved in the community. She has been a vocal community activist and has worked to amplify the diverse voices of her community. She represents the historic Federal Hill and part of the West End neighborhoods.
Jessica Cigna has lived in Providence since 2007 and lives on the East Side of Providence. She is a senior data analyst with over 20 years of significant experience relating to the research and application of social policies, including the connections between education, housing, health, the social safety net, family economic success, neighborhood change, and revitalization. She serves on several community organization boards, and her skill set will be ideal in crafting the decennial ward boundary map.
Nick Freeman is a lifelong Providence native and currently lives in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of the City. Nick brings with him a wealth of historical knowledge related to the City Council, where he served the body for 11 years as a policy and research analyst and then as the manager of policy and research. He currently is the assistant director at The Providence Foundation, where he advocates for policies and projects for the development of downtown and the City. His vast knowledge of the City Council and its various wards will be a great asset to the committee.
Council President Sabina Matos continued, “I believe that this cohort of exceptional committee members are ready to take on this historical task which will shape how our City is governed for the next decade. Further, I know they will do so engaging and listening with humility and with the best interest of our residents at the core of every decision they propose.”
by Abigail Appel | Jan 7, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
As a mother, my heart aches for Jhamal, his family, and his friends, as they continue the healing process – both physically and emotionally. I ask that we give him and his family the space and peace they need to heal. As an elected official, my heart aches for our community, we experience tragedy much to often, and as we know, the results of these tragedies last for generations.
These incidents are so complex and filled with such painful emotions. I am grateful to the Attorney General and his team, as well as the State Police for bringing the resources needed to assist with this thorough investigation. And I am grateful to Chief Clements and the Providence Police for understanding the emotion surrounding this tragic incident and the need to get it right and strengthen their policies. I encourage the Chief and the Public Safety Commissioner to take the time needed to review the next phase of this incident and to use the resources and partnerships they have to make any changes needed to ensure the public and our officers’ safety.
I am committed to finding solutions to the challenges of policing in our City. Regardless of the incidents, we need to actively deescalate inherently dangerous encounters in our communities so families and friends similar to Jhamal’s will not experience the pain they are enduring.
I am committed to working with my colleagues on the Council and in the City to strengthen current ordinances and enacting meaningful reforms that have one goal, keep us all safe. We are a city made up of neighborhoods and what affects one neighborhood affects all.
My request of you, is to continue to show compassion.
Sabina Matos
President-Providence City Council
Councilwoman-Ward 15
by Abigail Appel | Dec 28, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
| What happened in Nashville on Christmas day is a strong reminder that events like that can happen anywhere. We must remain vigilant, and remember if you see something, to say something.
I extend my sympathies to the eight individuals that were harmed in the blast, along with more than 40 businesses that sustained damage from the explosion. I am thankful to the brave men and women of the Nashville Police, Fire, and Emergency Management Departments for how quickly they acted to protect the lives of so many.
Mayor John Cooper, and my counterpart on the Metropolitan Council, Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, thank you for your leadership during this difficult time. Many of us across the country have lost so much due to the ongoing global pandemic, and to have this happen on Christmas day is such a tragedy.
On behalf of my colleagues here in Providence, RI please know that we are thinking and praying for all of Nashville.
Sabina Matos
President-Providence City Council
Councilwoman-Ward 15 |
by Abigail Appel | Dec 20, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
Providence City Council Hires Paul J. Fox III as Chief of Staff
Fox brings more than a decade of experience working with city leaders
Providence City Council President Sabina Matos today announced a new chief of staff to support the work of the 15-member Council. Paul J. Fox, III (P.J.) will begin on Monday, December 21, 2020.
“We are excited to welcome P.J. to our team,” stated Council President Sabina Matos. “His career has been dedicated to serving the residents of Providence and helping make our city a safe and welcoming place for everyone to live and work. I look forward to working together to move the work of the Council and the City of Providence forward. As we begin this new chapter, I would be remiss if I did not thank Doris De Los Santos for serving as the interim chief of staff during this period. This is not an easy role to fill, and she stepped in and handled it with grace, and I am indebted to her for all she has done to keep our office running.”
The Chief of Staff to the Providence City Council is entrusted with the management of the Council Staff, City Clerk’s Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Archives, and Municipal and Probate Courts. Additionally, their role supports the 15 elected City Councilors and their work. They engage with stakeholders across all sectors and will work to strengthen the City’s COVID-19 response and recovery.
Paul J. Fox III shared, “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the City Council team. I look forward to helping Council members serve the residents of Providence, especially as we continue to navigate these challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Most recently, Fox served as the executive director of the Nonviolence Institute. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Providence Sports and Leadership, a youth leadership development organization. Fox is also the Vice- President of the Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade and is a member of the Providence Rotary Club. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Political Science.
by Abigail Appel | Dec 18, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
“The Providence City Council and its staff serve the people of Providence and they ask us to do so compassionately, with integrity and respect. In public service, there should be zero tolerance for haphazard comments that divide and hurt.
Furthermore, as elected leaders and de facto supervisors of our hardworking staff, we should exemplify noble service both publicly and privately.
The comments made by Councilman Correia are not only unprofessional, but are extremely harmful to our LGBTQIA+ community and our Council staff who were subjected to them.
As a leader of the Council staff, I take my responsibility very seriously. My goal and commitment has been to ensure that the City Council staff feel supported and valued and that the council office provides a harassment free workplace. This is why when, even prior to learning of the existence of the recordings, when I learned that a Council employee had felt personally affected by Councilman Correia’s comments, I took immediate action. I reached out to him and coordinated several meetings with him imploring him to be mindful of his words and reflect on the impact they may have on staff morale. I was in frequent contact with the Human Resources Director to guarantee that we did all we could to ensure the affected employee feel supported. The Director and I even invited the Councilman for a joint meeting to discuss his behavior, but he did not attend.
Issuing an apology and asking for sensitivity training are first steps-not only have I conducted preliminary discussions with Council Chief of Staff and the Human Resources Director about providing this and other sensitivity training workshops for our City’s elected officials and workforce in the coming year; also, and under my direction, this past December 14, a Leadership training (inclusive of topics of Diversity and Inclusion) was delivered to the Council and the Staff.
However, as community leaders we need to be extremely mindful of our actions and reflect honestly and intensively on our individual and collective prejudices and intolerances and how they affect others. If we don’t, we deservedly risk losing the trust of our colleagues and neighbors and the positions we are privileged to occupied.
As the Council President, I’ve met individually with members of our administrative staff and have reiterated my open door policy on matters negatively affecting their workplace and morale. I remain committed as ever to provide a workplace where our employees feel safe, welcomed, and empowered and to lead a branch of government that embodies and promotes love of community.
Sabina Matos
President-Providence City Council
Councilwoman-Ward 15
