by Billy Kepner | Feb 26, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
The Providence City Council will consider candidates to serve on the Providence External Review Authority (PERA) Board.
PERA was established in 2002 by Providence City Ordinance No. 614 (Chapter 2002-39) to provide for a system of Civilian Oversight over the Providence Police Department. The purpose of PERA is to investigate allegations of misconduct on the part of officers of the Providence Police Department, to make findings of fact and to make recommendations of potential disciplinary action to the Chief of Police.
“I was incredibly impressed with the caliber of applicants who responded to the City Council’s open call for PERA Board candidates,” said City Council President David A. Salvatore. “Internally, there has been an extensive, thoughtful and deliberate process in crafting the process by which the Board was determined. It was foremost in our minds that this must be an open, inclusive and transparent process, and the candidates must be representative of the communities we serve. I am very confident that the slate of candidates selected embodies those qualities.”
The PERA Board nominees for consideration are:
- Jorge C. Armesto, Ph.D., Ed.M., a clinical and forensic psychologist and founder of the Latino Psychological Institute, Inc., as well as a Providence resident;
- Phanida Phivilay Bessette, former president of the Socio-Economic Development Center for Southeast Asians Board of Directors, former Providence School Board member and current program manager for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health & Human Services;
- Kenneth Cohen, a retired Providence Police Department Lieutenant and former FOP president with more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement;
- Susan DeRita, a Providence native and member of the original PERA Board, where she served as Chair of the Policy Committee; member of the Providence Police Advisory Committee; and Elmhurst Neighborhood Crime Watch coordinator;
- Alison Eichler, president of Sophia Academy’s Board of Directors, vice-chair of the Board of the Providence After School Alliance, member of the Rhode Island Personnel Appeal Board, co-principal in Eichler Realty Company, and a Providence native;
- Nick Figueroa, Executive Director of College Visions, graduate of Providence Public Schools, as well as Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, and the University of Rhode Island;
- Machiste Rankin, a retired Rhode Island Department of Corrections officer and Providence resident;
- Deborah Wray, a longtime Hartford Park Tenants Association member and former board member; a member of Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) for over 30 years; and a community activist.
“As an original member of the PERA Board, it is very gratifying to see this process through,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris. “I am appreciative of all of the hard work that went into ensuring the PERA Board is set up for success. This Board is extremely important to the community, and I am excited for it to begin its meaningful work.”
The slate of nominees will be voted on before the City Council at its next meeting on Thursday, March 1, 2018.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 20, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11
Providence City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) will be hosting the opening reception for the City Council’s Black History Month Exhibit – Home? The Housing Struggle in Providence from 1950 through Today. The reception is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at 11:00 AM in the Third Floor Gallery of City Hall, located at 25 Dorrance Street.
The exhibit, created in partnership with the Providence City Archives, takes visitors on a journey through Providence’s continuous struggle for fair and adequate housing in the Black community. Along the way, visitors will be introduced to figures that have fought in the battle for affordable and equal housing like Andrew J. Bell, Maria Lopes, Rose Viega, Asta Tigrai, and others.
“I’ve worked for decades on issues around affordable housing,” stated Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Ward 11. “When our City Archivist, Caleb Horton, came to me with the idea to focus this year’s exhibit on the housing struggle I was thrilled. Recently I was appointed Chairwoman of the Special Committee to Study Homelessness here in Providence by Council President Salvatore, and one of my main objectives is to find ways to address – what seems to be a never-ending struggle – the need for affordable and adequate housing. This exhibit will stand as a launching point for a community conversation that I hope to have over the next 10-months.”
The City Council is pleased to share that Representative Maria Lopes, one of the figures in the fair housing movement here in Providence and featured in the exhibit, will be one of our guest speakers along with Barbara Krank, and Brenda Clement, Executive Director of HousingWorksRI.
Home? The Housing Struggle in Providence from 1950 through Today runs Monday – Friday, from 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM through March 22, 2018. A guided tour with the curator is offered every Thursday at noon through the exhibits run. The curator will also offer a tour on March 1 and March 15 at 6:30 PM. For class or private tours, please call the City Archives office at (401) 421-7740 ext. 314.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 15, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1
In the six years since Councilman Seth Yurdin first introduced legislation to the City Council to create the Harbor Management Commission they have developed a harbor management plan and designated eight seasonal mooring spaces, of which seven are available for the 2018 season. Transient mooring sites are also designated in the plan, contingent on DEM funding and landside services, including dinghy storage.
“The Harbor Management Commission was created to protect our waterfront’s natural beauty while expanding opportunities for boating and other activities,” said Councilman Seth Yurdin, Ward 1. “During the past six years, access to the water has been increased, and now with the ability for residents to apply for mooring space, there are even more opportunities to enjoy our unique waterfront. These opportunities not only improve our quality of life, but they make our city a great place to live.”
The Providence Harbor Management Plan and the City of Providence Code of Ordinances Section 11-1.1 established the seasonal mooring field, located on the Seekonk River to the north of the Gano Park Boat Launch and south of the Crook Point Bascule Bridge west of the rowing lanes.
To acquire one of these spaces, you must first apply by visiting the Providence Harbor Management website: http://bit.ly/pvdmoorings. There is an application fee of $25 and, if approved, the applicant will be required to present proof of vessel ownership (State Registration and Title) at the time the mooring space is allocated. Recipients of such mooring spaces are required to supply their own moorings/mooring tackle, and these spaces are for vessels up to 25 feet in length. The applicant must pay the annual mooring fee of $350.00 on or before issuance of a mooring permit, which will be valid for three years. Deadline to apply is March 15, 2018, but it is recommended to do so sooner as spaces are on a first-come first-served basis.
The moorings are the latest in a series of improvements to activate the water around Providence, starting with the Gano Park Boat Launch, which opened in 2014, and including an effort to develop a kayak launch further to the north on the Seekonk River. There are also ongoing efforts to provide additional moorings and services for boaters at 25 India Street (The “Shooters” parcel).
For more information and the mooring space application, please visit http://bit.ly/pvdmoorings.
by Billy Kepner | Jan 17, 2018 | Community Engagement, Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Providence City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) will host a ceremony to name the Providence Ward 5 recreation center after long-time community volunteer, coach, and public servant Armand E. Batastini Jr. The dedication will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. at 50 Obadiah Brown Road in Providence. The newly named recreation center is located behind the Pleasant View Elementary School.
“I’m humbled to honor Armand E. Batastini Jr. with this much-deserved recognition,” stated City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan. “Armand has been a force for good in the state of Rhode Island and the city of Providence for decades. Not just from his 60-years of coaching young people in basketball or from being the founder of the Elmhurst Little League, but as a public servant as well. He serves as an inspiration to me and countless others in our pursuit to serve the people of Providence and the great state of Rhode Island. It’s for these reasons that I’m grateful to be able to ensure that his legacy will live on with the naming of the Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center for the decades to come. Congratulations Coach!”
Batastini is a lifelong resident of Rhode Island and has been an active member in the Ward 5 community for many years. He served as the Rhode Island State Representative for District 8, which included the Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Providence, from 1977 to 1992, working as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims and the Vice-Chairperson on the Health, Education and Welfare Committee. In addition to his nearly 20-years in public office, he spent 36-years in the Providence School Department as a student support specialist. Over his long and illustrious career, he has been very involved in youth sports, founding and acting as a board member for the Elmhurst Little League and coaching St. Pius CYO basketball teams for over 60 years. Known as Coach to many, he currently serves as Chairman of the 5th Ward Democratic Committee and Vice Chair of the Democratic City Committee.
Armand E. Batastini Jr. and his wife Mary are the proud parents of four children and five grandchildren. He is a Navy veteran, a graduate of Providence College and holds a Master’s Degree from Boston University in Physical Education.
The Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center provides safe quality after-school programming for neighborhood children to participate in sports, get homework help, receive tutoring services, and have a healthy meal. They offer basketball, wrestling, indoor and outdoor soccer, year-round swim for students and even adult and senior swim.
There will be a reception, hosted by the family, following the dedication ceremony from 5 pm – 7 pm at The Jake (Ladder 133) located at 133 Douglas Avenue in Providence.
by Billy Kepner | Jan 13, 2018 | Community Engagement, Council News, Press Release, Ward-3
The national media recently reported racist and derogatory comments made by President Trump against Haitians and other immigrant communities. Haitians in Rhode Island stand together to condemn the President’s racist and xenophobic comments.
“The Haitian community has withstood over 200 years of racism and various forms of oppression,” stated Providence Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune, Ward Three. “And on the eighth anniversary of the most devastating earthquake to impact humanity, The President should be recognizing the many lives lost, not insulting Haitians and other immigrant communities.”
The ongoing systemic discrimination against Haitians and other immigrant communities deserves global attention. Haitians throughout history has made significant economic, cultural and educational contributions to our local and international communities.
We invite the Rhode Island community, leaders, partners, and elected officials to join us on Sunday, January, 14th at 2pm at the Dorcas International Institute to stand against the President’s racist rhetoric.
