by Abigail Appel | Aug 13, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-12
I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the news of the shooting of a 26-year-old man on Smith Hill last night. I am left, like so many other community members, wondering who could be the next victim and how we can restore a sense of safety in our neighborhood. To the victim’s family, I offer my prayers and condolences. To the Smith Hill community, I ask for your support. Be it the police or myself, no one person alone can end this disturbing violence. But together, we can.
The isolation and uncertainty we have all faced in this pandemic has put an incredible strain on the strength of our community, but if we come together once again as a neighborhood, I know that we can begin working towards a safer Smith Hill. I ask that as community members you come out to community events, play in our streets, and watch out for your neighbors because coming together will be our greatest act of strength.
I am working closely with the Council office and the Rogers Recreation Center to ensure our recreation center will be open until 11pm at night. Our youth desperately need positive spaces with adult mentors and programming to keep them off the streets. Without these spaces, youth most at risk of being impacted by violence are left without reasons to live.
by Abigail Appel | Aug 12, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
Twelve hours after the Providence City Council met with the Chief of Police regarding crime in the city we found ourselves in the midst of shots fired at a police officer, missing him by inches.
The professionalism exhibited by the Providence Police bringing this case to a peaceful conclusion without injury speaks to the training and leadership, and commitment to the community of the officers on scene. I once again commend Chief Clements, and the command staff in bringing this to a close peacefully. As always, I am grateful and thankful to the men and women of the Providence Police Department and they have my full support.
by Michael Giles | Aug 11, 2021 | Council News, Ward-5
Early this morning, my neighbors and I were alerted to a shelter-in-place order due to a domestic abuse situation that led to the assailant firing gunshots at a police officer, and then barricading himself inside a house.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Providence Police Department, who worked diligently to keep residents in my neighborhood safe, and apprehended this armed and dangerous individual without any injuries or loss of life. Officers demonstrated their professionalism and training, and effectively protected the public’s safety. They secured the scene, kept residents safe in their homes, and arrested the suspect without firing a single shot. I commend their great work. I also want to thank our partners in state law enforcement who provided the additional equipment necessary to bring the standoff to a safe resolution.
This was a terrifying situation for my neighbors, as well as for everyone involved in the incident, and it highlights the urgency of our city’s current crime crisis. I am beyond grateful that nobody was injured, including the officer who was shot at while in the line of duty. I will continue collaborating with the Providence Police to put a stop to the current crime wave and to provide them with the resources necessary to protect the public.
by Abigail Appel | Aug 5, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
I am appalled by the overwhelming surge of violence that has taken over our city. It has gotten to the point where everyday citizens do not feel safe walking on the street or even driving in their cars.
For years, I have been calling on the Mayoral administration and my council colleagues to support our police force. We must give the police the tools they need to keep our city safe, and we must fund another police academy as soon as possible.
Without a robust and well-prepared police force, who will residents call when they are they victims of or witnesses to the violent crimes constantly occurring in our city?
The City Council has instituted ordinances that are meant to keep ATVs off of our streets. The City must enforce these laws to finally remove these dangerous and illegal vehicles from the streets. The safety of drivers, pedestrians and innocent bystanders are seriously at risk. The City has the legal groundwork to put a stop to this, yet the problem persists because the laws are not enforced.
Providence residents should not be forced to live in constant fear of violence, crime and reckless behavior. I am calling on the City and my Council colleagues to join me in supporting the expansion of law enforcement by increasing our police force and more strictly enforcing City laws intended to keep residents safe.
How many more injuries, how many more violent crimes, how many more lives have to be lost, before change is made? We must act now.
by Abigail Appel | Aug 4, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7
Council President John J. Igliozzi: “The report of a mother being ripped from her car and attacked by a mob of ATV and dirt bike riders, while her young child was in the car, is deeply disturbing, and yet another example of the completely unacceptable wave of violent crime we have seen in our city in recent weeks. Incidents like this–a mother driving her car on a weeknight and being attacked at random–cut to the very core of public safety. Put simply, too many Providence residents do not feel safe as our city is experiencing this surge in violent crime.
“As Council President, I am committed to taking both immediate and longer-term actions to stop this crime wave in its tracks. I strongly support Governor McKee’s call to allow the Rhode Island State Police to coordinate with the Providence Police Department to provide additional resources and foot patrols. This should happen immediately.
“I agree with Councilman Salvatore’s call to hold a special session of the City Council to immediately begin to tackle this public safety emergency. I will be scheduling a special Council as a Whole meeting early next week to urgently address this unacceptable outbreak of violent crime. I look forward to hearing from Public Safety Commissioner Pare and Police Chief Clements on the action plan.
“Additionally, Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan and I will work with our Council colleagues to include funding for an additional Police Academy in the 2022-23 budget. We must get our Providence Police force back to the 500 full-time officers needed to fully reimplement community policing. This must happen as quickly as possible, and that is why I am also calling on Mayor Elorza to immediately begin recruitment for the next Police Academy, which was approved in our most recent budget. We need more police on the streets, interacting with our residents, business owners, and community groups to prevent these types of horrific, random crimes.
“Finally, the City of Providence has over $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars available. I believe that it is appropriate to immediately develop a plan to use some of these funds for a significant investment in the public safety infrastructure and diversion efforts of our city.”
Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan: “Last night’s attack on a motorist by individuals illegally riding ATVs on Providence streets is horrifying. I am once again calling on the Mayor to give the police department the resources it needs to enforce City ordinances and get these vehicles off our roads. The threat to public safety could not be more clear. Our residents are fearful and are being endangered and it is past the time for words; we need action from the administration. The mayor has to use all the tools we have at our disposal, which means full commitment to community policing and accepting the offer of assistance from the State Police.”
by Abigail Appel | Aug 4, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1
The terrifying and senseless act of violence that took place this morning is a wake up call to local leaders that we must act immediately to protect the residents of our city.
In the past week alone, two innocent young women have been the victims of brutal violence on our city streets. I strongly support my City Council colleague, Councilor David Salvatore and urge my colleagues to suspend August recess for an emergency meeting.
The City Council must meet with Mayor Elorza, Commissioner Pare and the Police Department to ensure that any and all steps are being taken to protect residents in our city from the gun violence and dangerous behavior that has been plaguing our city streets.
It is our responsibility to face these matters head on and make critical changes to stop the cycle of any violence that is endangering the community and the residents of our city.
John Goncalves
Councilman, Ward 1
Providence City Council
