by Council Staff | Jan 9, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing
At tonight’s meeting, Providence City Councilors approved a resolution calling on Governor Dan McKee to take immediate action and address the homelessness crisis by declaring a public health state of emergency. The resolution, introduced by Councilor Justin Roias, will be sent to the offices of Governor Dan McKee and Mayor Brett Smiley.
On Tuesday, Councilor Justin Roias and Councilor Miguel Sanchez took direct action, working with local service providers to open the Council Chamber for unhoused constituents to get warm amid plummeting, life threatening temperatures because of inadequate shelter availability. On Wednesday, the two councilors continued their efforts, opening the DaVinci Center as a temporary overnight warming center with the Mayor’s approval. Over 70 volunteers from the community have stepped up to provide donations and assist trained staff.
“This week, we saw firsthand what compassion and action can achieve when public servants and community members come together,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “Homelessness is rising, and not just in Providence. It’s a statewide crisis. Rhode Islanders are freezing on our streets, and we cannot address this alone. Governor McKee must step up and declare homelessness a public health emergency to mobilize needed resources. We need immediate investment to increase the availability of life-saving short-term solutions, and we need to come together at every level of government to address decades-long systemic failures. Further inaction will cost lives.”
“This resolution is a call for leadership at the state level because our unhoused neighbors cannot wait any longer,” said Councilor Justin Roias. “Emergency shelter beds are in short supply, and warming centers where people sit in chairs all night are not a solution – they’re a sign of how deeply our system has failed. Governor McKee must declare a public health emergency and take bold, immediate action to ensure no one else is left out in the cold.”
Additional Meeting Highlights
- Council approved a resolution, introduced by Majority Whip Miguel Sanchez, supporting the newly formed Atlantic Mills Commercial Tenants Union. The resolution celebrates the first commercial tenants’ union in the state and emphasizes its importance in the face of skyrocketing rents, displacement, and gentrification.
- Council approved a resolution, presented by Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, honoring the life and legacy of Ruth “Diamond” Madsen. After her recent passing on December 21,2024, Council uplifts her memory as a compassionate advocate in service of the unhoused.
- Council approved a resolution, introduced by Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris and vetted by the Committee on Finance, that grants tax abatement for affordable housing project, Joseph Caffey Apartments.
- Council referred phase one of the amended zoning ordinance to the Committee on Ordinances. The suggested changes outlined in the ordinance were recommended by the City Department of Planning and Development in alignment with the City’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan.
El Concejo Aprueba una Resolución que Pide al Gobernador McKee que Declare la Falta de Vivienda como Estado de Emergencia de Salud Pública
En la reunión de esta noche, los concejales de la ciudad de Providence aprobaron una resolución que pide al gobernador Dan McKee que tome medidas inmediatas y aborde la crisis de las personas sin hogar declarando un estado de emergencia de salud pública. La resolución, presentada por el concejal Justin Roias, se enviará a las oficinas del gobernador Dan McKee y del alcalde Brett Smiley.
El martes, el concejal Justin Roias y el concejal Miguel Sánchez tomaron acción directa, trabajando con proveedores de servicios locales para abrir la Cámara del Concejo para que los electores sin vivienda se calentaran en medio de la caída de temperaturas que amenazaban sus vidas debido a la disponibilidad inadecuada de refugios. El miércoles, los dos concejales continuaron con sus esfuerzos y abrieron el DaVinci Center como un centro de calentamiento temporal durante la noche con la aprobación del alcalde. Más de 70 voluntarios de la comunidad se han ofrecido para brindar donaciones y ayudar al personal capacitado.
“Esta semana, vimos de primera mano lo que la compasión y la acción pueden lograr cuando los funcionarios públicos y los miembros de la comunidad se unen”, dijo la presidenta del Concejo Rachel Miller. “La falta de vivienda está aumentando, y no solo en Providence. Es una crisis estatal. Los habitantes de Rhode Island se congelan en nuestras calles y no podemos abordar esto solos. El gobernador McKee debe intensificar sus esfuerzos y declarar la falta de vivienda como una emergencia de salud pública para movilizar los recursos necesarios. Necesitamos una inversión inmediata para aumentar la disponibilidad de soluciones a corto plazo que salven vidas, y debemos unirnos en todos los niveles de gobierno para abordar fallas sistémicas que duran décadas. Una mayor inacción costará vidas.”
“Esta resolución es un llamado al liderazgo a nivel estatal porque nuestros vecinos sin hogar no pueden esperar más,” dijo el concejal Justin Roias. “Hay muy pocas camas en los refugios de emergencia, y los centros de calentamiento donde las personas se sientan en sillas toda la noche no son una solución; son una señal de cuán profundamente ha fallado nuestro sistema. El gobernador McKee debe declarar una emergencia de salud pública y tomar medidas audaces e inmediatas para garantizar que nadie más se quede afuera en el frío.”
Aspectos destacados adicionales de la reunión
- El Concejo aprobó una resolución, presentada por el jefe de la mayoría Miguel Sánchez, en apoyo al recién formado sindicato de inquilinos comerciales de Atlantic Mills. La resolución celebra el primer sindicato de inquilinos comerciales del estado y destaca su importancia frente al aumento vertiginoso de los alquileres, el desplazamiento y la gentrificación.
- El Concejo aprobó una resolución, presentada por la diputada líder de la mayoría Mary Kay Harris, en honor a la vida y el legado de Ruth “Diamond” Madsen. Después de su reciente fallecimiento el 21 de diciembre de 2024, el Concejo enaltece su memoria como defensora compasiva al servicio de las personas sin hogar.
- El Concejo aprobó una resolución, presentada por la diputada líder de la mayoría Mary Kay Harris y examinada por el Comité de Finanzas, que otorga una reducción de impuestos para el proyecto de vivienda asequible, Joseph Caffey Apartments.
- El Concejo remitió la Concejo remitió la primera fase de la ordenanza de zonificación enmendada al Comité de Ordenanzas. Los cambios sugeridos que se describen en la ordenanza fueron recomendados por el Departamento de Planificación y Desarrollo de la Ciudad en consonancia con el Plan Integral 2024 de la Ciudad.
by Council Staff | Jan 8, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News
Tuesday, January 7, 2024
Councilors Sanchez and Roias are Calling for a Public Health State of Emergency
As frigid temperatures sweep across Rhode Island, Providence City Councilors Justin Roias and Miguel Sanchez will open the City Council Chamber tonight at 7 pm to host a community gathering space away from the cold. Councilors Sanchez and Roias have worked closely with local homelessness service providers to ensure trained volunteers will be on-hand throughout the night, continuing to provide the space for as long as residents need it. Those who come by will be offered transportation and assistance accessing shelter beds, should they be available.
In the past year alone, 54 unhoused residents have lost their lives living outside. Councilors Sanchez and Roias are taking this action to help save lives.
“As a polar vortex grips Providence, many of our unhoused neighbors are being forced to sleep outside in dangerous temperatures,” said Councilor Justin Roias (Ward 4). “With only two 24/7 emergency shelters open, the response from the mayor and governor has been woefully inadequate. This failure has left us no choice but to take the unprecedented step of opening the City Council chambers as a community gathering space where folks are able to stay warm during freezing temperatures.”
“As local elected leaders, we cannot allow our neighbors to freeze to death on our streets,” said Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). “No one in our city should endure these deadly conditions because of a failure of government to protect its people. We call on the mayor and governor to immediately expand emergency shelter capacity and commit to long-term solutions to address homelessness in our community. This is a preventable crisis, and every moment of inaction puts lives at risk. We’re calling on Governor McKee to declare a Public Health Emergency by executive order immediately.”
Unhoused Rhode Islanders are in crisis. The recently released 2024 Point in Time Count, compiled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, reports that Rhode Island has the second highest rate of chronic homelessness in the nation.
Councilors Roias and Sanchez are demanding life-saving action from the state, calling on Governor Dan McKee to declare homelessness a state of emergency for public health and unlock essential resources for short- and long-term relief and care for unhoused individuals.
In lieu of state action, Providence City Councilors are committed to doing what they can to support unhoused community through both direct action and compassionate, housing first policy.
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by Council Staff | Dec 29, 2024 | Blog
Across Providence, dozens of community gardens have offered residents more than just a place to grow food. Putting down roots in South Providence in 1981 with a single community garden, Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) has grown into a vibrant network of 58 gardens across Rhode Island. In 2023, they organized programs benefitting over 23,000 people and grew over 67,000 pounds of food that nourished our neighbors. But their impact cannot be measured with numbers alone.
Council members past and present have appreciated firsthand how SCLT has transformed neglected lots into thriving gardens that are now fixtures of our neighborhoods. Not only do these gardens offer culturally familiar food to all who need it, they are hands-on learning opportunities for young people and a self-sustaining solution to flooding issues. From celebrating their thirty years of service to helping them secure a 20-year lease of a city-owned lot, the Council has been a long-time supporter of SCLT.
“It’s been a godsend to have help from Council members to make use of underutilized land in Providence,” said Rochelle Lee, President of the Board of Directors of SCLT. “The City Council has been our partner since day one, supporting our mission to give folks healthy food, garden access, and job training at no cost.”
Under the leadership of Council President Rachel Miller, the Council has worked to strengthen its relationship with SCLT. In the city’s 2023 budget, the Council approved $45,000 of federal funds to improve gardens located on Potters Avenue with fences, irrigation systems, and paths. Later in 2023, SCLT finalized work on 404 Broad Street—a building complex where they sell produce to local business and lease retail space to restaurants. In early 2024, Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris worked with Senator Tiara Mack and Representative Jose Batista to ensure that this new development could operate with tax exempt status. Meanwhile, Councilor Miguel Sanchez advocates to extend SCLT’s leases of six city-owned lots on Manton Avenue by ten years.
“Southside Community Land Trust is a shining example of community-driven organizing that makes Providence a better place to live,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris. “Children, adults, and elders all play their parts to help run these community gardens and grow the food that is needed in our communities.”
As we look forward to another year of service to the people of Providence, the Council will continue to prioritize easy access to basic needs, from healthy food to affordable housing, environmental justice to quality education for our young people.
by Council Staff | Dec 29, 2024 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Ward-10, Ward-13
On Friday, a tank with 3,000 gallons of corn oil caught fire at the Port of Providence. In response, Council President Rachel Miller and Majority Leader Pedro Espinal released the following statement:
“We’re grateful to the firefighters from Providence, East Providence, Cranston, Johnston, Cumberland, and North Smithfield whose heroic efforts contained yet another massive blaze at the Port of Providence. Without their swift action, this fire could have had catastrophic consequences for the health and safety of South Providence residents. This latest incident underscores the ongoing environmental and public health risks posed by activity at the port. We cannot afford to grow numb to these repeated disasters. We need companies operating at the port to take immediate action to reduce hazardous and polluting operations. And we need government partners to work with us to ban dirty and reckless uses at the port.
Last week, the city scored a significant legal victory against Sea 3, a fossil fuel company seeking to irresponsibly expand their liquid petroleum gas delivery and storage. In coming months, Providence City Council and the City Plan Commission will align the city’s zoning ordinance with the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan—which put the Port of Providence on a new path away from heavy polluters and toward environmental justice. We don’t need more studies or delays; we need action. 2024 was a year of environmental disasters at the port. Let’s make 2025 the year we put an end to them.”
by Council Staff | Dec 23, 2024 | Council News
In a decisive win for South Providence residents, the Rhode Island Superior Court has upheld the city’s zoning ordinance as amended in 2022. The ordinance bans the bulk storage of liquid propane gas (LPG) anywhere in the city of Providence, part of the city’s commitment to environmental justice.
“This decision is a major victory for South Providence,” said City Council Majority Leader Pedro Espinal, who represents the neighborhood where the facility is located. “For generations, the community I call home has endured massive amounts of pollution and devastating health outcomes as a result. Enough is enough. This decision makes clear to Sea 3: no more putting lives at risk just to increase your profits. I am very grateful to the city’s legal team and the activists that organized to build pressure. There is still much more we must do to turn the port into a clean, modern driver of economic development, but today we celebrate this win for our community.”
In 2021, fossil fuel company Sea 3 Providence LLC attempted to fast-track a plan to expand their facility, proposing six massive LPG storage tanks and a new rail delivery system, and drawing fierce opposition from environmentalists and South Providence residents. In 2021 and 2022, Providence City Council took significant steps to stop this proposed expansion. At the forefront of this effort, Majority Leader Espinal (then serving as President Pro Tempore) introduced a resolution calling on the Rhode Island Energy Facility Sitting Board (EFSB) to deny Sea 3’s proposed expansion plan. Additionally, Espinal championed and successfully passed an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance, effectively banning the establishment of any new bulk LPG storage facilities in Providence.
Sea 3 challenged the amended ordinance in court, claiming it was inconsistent with the city’s 2014 Comprehensive Plan. Last Thursday, December 19, the Superior Court rejected this argument and upheld the ordinance.
Now, any expansion by Sea 3 will be confined to their original plan, which was approved by the City Plan Commission in 2022, and still will require approvals from city and state agencies, including the Energy Facilities Sitting Board. Any changes recommended during this process could halt Sea 3’s expansion entirely.
The recently signed 2024 Comprehensive Plan includes Council-sponsored strengthened protections for the Port of Providence and South Side residents. The plan prohibits power plants dependent on fossil fuel combustion, noxious or toxic chemical manufacturing, and ethylene oxide manufacturing and storage in M2 and W3 zones. The plan paves the way for the city to ban future uses that it “determines go against the public interest of (a) public health and quality of life in near-industry neighborhoods or (b) realizing fossil fuel emissions reduction goals in response to climate change.” The specific uses are currently under discussion by city officials and will be included in the upcoming zoning ordinance. As the City Council reviews and proposes amendments to the zoning ordinance, environmental justice at the port will be prioritized.
Read the Superior Court’s decision HERE.
