“These past few weeks, there have been two shooting incidents, one at Billy Taylor Park, the latest this Saturday afternoon in the heart of our Summit neighborhood. Both struck a personal chord for me,” said Councilwoman for Ward 3, Nirva LaFortune. “My children have played at Billy Taylor Park, and my daughter’s young friend, who has been part of our family with sleepovers and bike rides, reached out to me concerned about the shooting near Camp Street and Dexterdale Road. She lives three houses away, where multiple shell casings were discovered on the ground. This must end. How are these young people getting such easy access to guns? We must step up our efforts to prevent these crimes from happening. We need to pass stronger sense laws, invest in our neighborhoods, implement and execute a public safety plan, and get back to the basics of community policing. I ask anyone with ideas to please come to our community meeting on May 31, 5:30 P.M, at Billy Taylor Park.”
City Council Approves $124million in Federal Stimulus Funds
and Separately Passes $5.5 million in Neighborhood Grants
ARPA Ordinance
Providence, RI – At tonight’s Providence City Council meeting, councilors overwhelmingly approved $124 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that will directly impact city residents and build long-term investments in Providence’s neighborhoods. The allocated funding includes substantial investments in housing, parks and recreation centers, tourism, travel, hospitality, water/sewer infrastructure improvements, and economic relief for small businesses and many organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Taxpayers should know these dollars will be tracked and accounted for by an independent auditor. This was a necessary checks and balances mechanism. My colleagues and I demanded accountability,” said Council President John Igliozzi. The accounting firm of Clifton Larsen Allen LLP will serve as the independent auditor. “I am proud of the hard work and collaborative efforts of the City Council and administration,” said Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan. “In the wake of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, this is the long-awaited relief and investment in our recovery that the people of Providence need and deserve.”
ARPA Ordinance Summary
Investment in Housing
$30.7 million
Investment in Water, Sewer, Broadband and Infrastructure
$20 million
Investments in Community and Social Disparities
$24.3 million
Speeding the Recover of the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Sectors
$6.2 million
Economic Stabilization-Business
$2.7 million
Revenue Recovery
$36.7 million
Administration expenditures/audit ($300,000)
$3 million
Total = $123,769,438
The ARPA ordinance covers a period of January 6, 2022, through December 31, 2024. A detailed copy of the ordinance can be found here.
Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG)
For the first time, Councilors passed the $5.5 million community development block grant budget (CDBG), federal funding that will immediately help make improvements and additions to city neighborhoods. CDBG funding includes financial support to community centers and provides grants for economic development and public service programs across the city. Many public service grants help with unemployment, homelessness, public health, clothing insecurity, music education, and domestic violence resources/emergency housing. Some beneficiaries include established providers like Amos House, Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, and the Rhode Island Free Clinic. The CDBG budget was vetted by the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning and chaired by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). The budget will require a second vote for passage. A breakdown of the CDBG funds can be found here: CDGB 2022-2023
Right to an Adequate Education
Councilors also passed a resolution requesting the House Committee on State Government and Elections and the Rhode Island House of Representatives pass Senate Bill S-2095 and its House companion. The legislation would place a referendum before voters to make education a fundamental right in the State of Rhode Island. Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) sponsored the resolution, co-sponsored by the Council.
On Monday, the City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning (URRP) passed the $5.4 million community development block grant budget (CDBG), federal funds that will immediately impact Providence neighborhoods. CDBG funding includes substantial support to community centers like Federal Hill House and provides grants for economic development and public service programs across the city. Many public service grants help with unemployment, homelessness, public health, clothing insecurity, music education, and domestic violence resources/emergency housing. Some beneficiaries include established providers like Amos House, Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, and the Rhode Island Free Clinic.
Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) chairs the committee (URRP). The budget ordinance will now go to the full council on May 19 for a first passage. A full breakdown of CDBG funds can be found here: CDGB 2022-2023
“I would like to thank Governor McKee, Commerce Secretary Pryor, Mayor Elorza, and the team at High Rock Development for their leadership in revitalizing the iconic Superman building in the heart of Downtown Providence.
I look forward to engaging with stakeholders and community members as we move forward with this process to bring this hallmark of the Providence skyline back to life. This moment is a unique and exciting opportunity to boost our local economy and reinvigorate Downtown and the City of Providence,” Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
After sitting abandoned for more than a decade, the former Windmill Street School on Paul Street is getting a new look and name. Tonight, the Providence City Council passed a resolution renaming the school, “The Narducci Learning Center.” Refurbishing the 80-year-old school has been a passion project for Councilman Nicholas J. Narducci throughout his 16 years on the City Council. Now, thanks to his tireless work and the efforts of the City Council’s Finance Committee, the school is undergoing a $30.5 million renovation, with plans to re-open in the fall of 2023.
The Narducci family has deep ties to the building and a life-long commitment to the north end and the city of Providence. In fact, the Councilman’s father attended the school in the 1940’s, and his mother and wife, both worked as lunch aides for decades. Councilman Narducci himself was heavily involved with little league, football, and other extracurricular activities for the students and families of the school.
“It means so much to my family, to create a lasting legacy in the neighborhood we love and have belonged to for generations,” said Councilman Narducci. “This beautiful building stands in the middle of Ward 4 and serves as a symbol of the resiliency and spirit of the people here. I would like to thank President John Igliozzi for sponsoring this for my family, and all the co-sponsors. It means a lot to my family, past, and present.”
At tonight’s emergency meeting of the Providence City Council, councilors reviewed a proposed ordinance laying out new procedures and accountability in the event of mass terminations in the city. The proposed law was read into the record, discussed, and referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.
“The City Council encourages all Providence employees to get vaccinated. I’m pleased and relieved no police officers were fired today. Our city neighborhoods are safer and more secure as a result. From the beginning, this action was about maintaining public safety and the risk to our city from potentially firing more than 70 police officers. The Council will monitor the situation closely and make sure the mayor and his administration have a concrete plan should they consider a mass firing of officers in the days and weeks ahead.
