by Abigail Appel | May 14, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-7
Last night’s violence between rival groups in Providence was devastating. When a shooting takes place, our community goes through the range of emotions, from fear and shock to sadness and anger. All of our neighborhoods need to be safe for our residents, and their families and friends.
I want to thank the Providence Police for their excellent response and ongoing thorough investigation of last night’s events. Their leadership in working with community advocates and social service organizations is often overlooked, but makes a huge difference in restoring peace and stability to volatile situations in our city.
by Abigail Appel | May 14, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
I am appalled by the senseless acts of violence that took place on Carolina Avenue last night which left nine people injured and terrorized the local community.
Gun violence has plagued our City for far too long and I remain committed to working with my Council colleagues, Mayor Elorza’s administration, and community partners to put a stop to the cycle of violence that is being perpetuated on our City streets.
I am praying for the Washington Park neighborhood and the recovery of those who were injured. I extend my gratitude to the Providence Police Department for their diligent work as this investigation continues.
Pedro Espinal
President Pro Tempore, Providence City Council
Councilman, Ward 10
by Abigail Appel | May 12, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7
At tonight’s meeting of City Council Committee on Finance, committee members elected Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) to the position of Chairperson. Council President John J. Igliozzi resigned from the chairmanship at a special Council meeting last night after 14 years in the role. Ryan last night also resigned from her post as Majority Leader of the Council, and now takes the top leadership position on one of the busiest Council committees.
“I have great confidence in Chairwoman Ryan’s expertise to successfully lead the Finance Committee at this critical time, as Providence determines how to invest an unprecedented $160 million in American Rescue Plan funds, and simultaneously works to stabilize its pension system,” President Igliozzi stated. “It’s an immense responsibility, and Chairwoman Ryan has the professional background in financial management, and a fine-tuned knowledge of the City’s budget process, finances, and operational systems and structures.”
Ryan has served on the Council since 2015, and in addition to serving as Majority Leader (2019-2021), previously served as Vice-Chair of Finance (2019-2021) and Majority Whip (2016-2019), and also served as chairperson of the Committee on Ordinances for six years.
“The Finance Committee has an extremely full agenda for the remainder of this term, and I am excited to lead us through the crucial, time sensitive decisions the City faces,” Ryan said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my skills, understanding and interest to detailed analysis and deliberation of the City’s fiscal policies.”
The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. See meeting agenda and videoconference information here: https://bit.ly/2RPAlPj
by Abigail Appel | May 11, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7
At tonight’s special City Council meeting, as part of Council President John J. Igliozzi Esq.’s (Ward 7) ongoing commitment to restructuring the leadership of the Providence City Council, Council President Igliozzi and Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) resigned their positions as Majority Whip and Majority Leader.
In addition to his resignation as Majority Whip, Council President Igliozzi also submitted his resignation as Finance Committee Chairman. Council President Igliozzi was elected to serve as Majority Whip in 2018 and served as the Finance Committee Chairman for fourteen years.
“In my capacity as Council President, I remain committed to creating new leadership opportunities for all Council members. Throughout my tenure on the City Council, I have served in various leadership roles, which have all taught me valuable lessons about our City’s operations and engagements. My goal is to provide new and future Council members with the same opportunities to learn the institutional knowledge that is necessary to best serve our Constituency,” stated Council President John Igliozzi.
Councilwoman Ryan submitted her resignation as Council Majority Leader and as Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance. Councilwoman Ryan was previously elected to serve as Council Majority Whip in 2016 and was elected to serve as Majority Leader in 2018.
“I join Council President Igliozzi in an effort to create learning opportunities for all council members. I look forward to working with the Council President and all members of the City Council in order to continue to serve our residents and bettering the City as a whole,” added Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan.
These resignations come after last month’s election of Councilman Igliozzi as Council President, and his commitment to reorganizing the City Council’s leadership and office structures to optimize efficiency and service capability.
by Abigail Appel | May 10, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-2, Ward-3
At last Thursday’s City Council meeting, the Council passed a resolution endorsing and urging the passage by the General Assembly of House Resolution 2021 H-5250, creating a special legislative commission to study ensuring racial equity and optimizing health and safety laws affecting marginalized individuals. This commission would specifically work to examine sex workers in the State of Rhode Island and their access to vital health, safety and legal resources.
The Council’s resolution was introduced by Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12) and co-sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13) and Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
“I am proud to support COYOTE RI and all the advocates who are working tirelessly to pass good policy that would provide our State with information on the impacts of the sex industry. The reality is, legalized or not, sex work continues to exist in Rhode Island and without regulation and research, people who engage in sex work, particularly women, are left without a safe network to report assaults or other issues that may arise from the job. I hope the State will consider passing this bill with the full support of the Providence City Council,” stated Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12).
In a Rhode Island sex work study conducted by COYOTE RI and Brown University, 77 percent of respondents reported they had never tried reporting a crime while working in the sex industry and, of this group, 27 percent did not report because they did not think the police would do anything, while 32 percent did not report because they did not want to draw attention to themselves. For workers that did file a report, 4 percent were arrested while trying to report a crime, and 26 percent reported being threatened by the police when trying to file a report.
“We need to re-examine how laws around commercial sex are harming the people they are supposed to protect. Criminalization creates the perfect playground for bad actors and police to prey on sex workers with impunity,” added Bella Robinson of COYOTE RI.
An analysis of 134 studies spanning 30 years found that sex workers in decriminalized contexts were less likely to experience physical or sexual violence from clients and were less likely to contract HIV or sexually transmitted infections. The analysis additionally found that repressive policing of sex workers, their clients, and/or sex work venues disrupted sex workers’ work environments, support networks, safety and risk reduction strategies, and access to health services and justice.
On January 29, 2021, Rhode Island State Representatives Anastasia Williams, Edith Ajello, Camille Vella-Wilkinson, Karen Alzate, Brianna Henries, and David Morales introduced HB 5250 to create a special legislative commission to study ensuring racial equity and optimizing health and safety laws affecting marginalized individuals.
Copies of the Council’s resolution in support of HB 5250 will be sent to the Providence delegation in the Rhode Island House and Senate and the Honorable Speaker of the House.
by Abigail Appel | May 5, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
I am fully opposed to any expansion of any development by Sea 3 Providence in the Port of Providence.
The industrial operations already taking place in this neighborhood have repeatedly created major threats to public health, safety and the local environment. Any economic gains presented by Sea 3’s expansion proposal are far outweighed by the risks of further polluting the Port of Providence and South Side neighborhoods.
As the Councilman to Ward 10, protecting public health, safety and quality of life remains my top priority. For this reason, I will be submitting a letter of opposition to this proposal as part of the public comment period.
Pedro Espinal
Councilman, Ward 10
President Pro Tempore, Providence City Council
