by Abigail Appel | Oct 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
Tonight, the City Council’s Committee on Finance adopted a new Compensation and Classification (Comp & Class) portion of the Fiscal Year (FY) ’21 Budget. The Council previously passed the tax levy keeping property taxes level and ensured no tax increase for residents. The Mayor’s Comp & Class budget, as submitted, called for the filling of vacant positions at a cost to the City’s taxpayers of just over $4 Million, and with revenues from speed cameras, school speed cameras, parking meters, hotel occupancy taxes, and food and beverage taxes all at record lows and have not yet received the City’s full Thirty-Two Million dollar pilot payment from the State (a payment from the State the City in lieu of taxes for state-owned properties), the Committee felt compelled to ensure the safety of the current workforce by removing these budgeted positions. The third and final portion of the FY ’21 budget, the appropriations portion, will not be taken up until the State passes its Budget.
“The fiscal forecast for the City of Providence is in peril,” stated Chairman on the Committee on Finance, Councilman John J. Igliozzi, Esq. (Ward 7). “As the legislative body, we have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of Providence to work in their best interest. By removing the Mayor’s request for an additional $4 Million in vacant and open funded positions it cuts the spending portion of our Budget, ensures our capacity to continue to keep our current workforce stable, and will help the City from falling off the fiscal cliff we are on. I have been a part of almost every City budget since I became a Councilman, and this is one of the gravest positions I have ever seen the City in financially.”
The Mayor’s requested positions can be revisited once the Council and the Committee on Finance have a better understanding of the state’s pilot payment notice. The City also had to make a significant investment in retrofitting offices and ensuring its workforce’s safety during this global pandemic and are waiting to learn what will be reimbursed from the state or federal agencies.
“We have a duty to protect our tax dollars for the residents of Providence,” stated Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Finance and Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5). “Had our fiscal outlook remained the same as it did in January, we would not be in this position. Since mid-March we have lost valuable revenues from hotel occupancy taxes, our food and beverage taxes, and state aid are significantly down which are critical to the City. However, like all cities, we are facing three crises at once an economic crisis, a global pandemic, and social unrest. $4 Million savings in vacant and open funded positions and raises is an opportunity to reduce our spending while preserving our current workforce, which is essential to keeping our City running.”
Chairman Igliozzi continued, “I want to thank my Committee colleagues Vice-Chairwoman and Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, Councilors Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Helen Anthony (Ward 2), and James Taylor (Ward 8) for their hard work during this longer than normal budgeting process. I would also like to thank my colleagues, President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), and Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) for their input and guidance as we navigate these uncertain times.”
by Billy Kepner | Oct 12, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
We faced yet another violent weekend in our City, and it’s time for my City Council colleagues and I, along with Mayor Elorza, to provide the support that our police department needs to serve and protect.
More importantly, we need a mayor and a commissioner that is going to support the enforcement of laws and start making our City safe again. I have stated several times that we need to remove the handcuffs from our police and let them do their job.
Residents and city taxpayers should feel safe where they live and deserve to have a police force that serves and upholds our community’s quality of life.
Our City went from a having a low-crime status just months ago, to now having a crime rate that appears to be spiraling out of control. There have been shootings, kidnapping, and other serious crimes just in the past two weeks.
We need to ensure that our hardworking residents and taxpayers live in a safe community. They deserve nothing less.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Billy Kepner | Oct 10, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4) today was on site where work is nearing completion on the Hawkins Street Bridge Restoration Project.
Hawkins Street Bridge was closed to traffic in October of 2017 after the Rhode Island Department of Transportation found significant deterioration on several of the support beams.
Councilman Narducci has been monitoring the process and has been in contact with RIDT regarding the final phase of the restoration. “Today marks another step closer to restoring this bridge so that the community is no longer divided. When the bridge is opened you can expect a ribbon-cutting, our neighborhood deserves it,” stated Councilman Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
A completion date has not yet been set, but the engineers and contractors from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation believe it to be in the very near future.
by Abigail Appel | Oct 9, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Throughout my tenure as a member of the Providence City Council, I have been an outspoken advocate for gun safety and common-sense gun reforms. Programs such as gun buybacks play an important role in removing firearms from Providence streets. I believe that programs like the one being proposed in Providence and Central Falls can potentially get firearms out of the hands of those who might use them to do harm against our fellow residents.
However, the program slated to happen next weekend in Providence includes an amnesty clause. Any firearm turned in through this program cannot and will not be traced or examined to see if it had been used in a violent crime. This sends a clear message to criminals that they can now get rid of their weapons and not face any consequences, while simultaneously being rewarded.
For decades, scores of violent crimes have gone unsolved because of public safety officials’ inability to find the weapon(s) used during the act. This program is equivalent to giving a criminal a “get out of jail free card”.
We owe the victims of gun crimes and their families more than this. They are owed justice. Giving amnesty to potential criminals will only help create more pain and suffering for their victims.
Before this program moves forward, I urge the Mayors of Providence and Central Falls to think about the long-range impacts this may have on our community’s unsolved crimes, and I urge them to remove the amnesty clause from the planned program. Further, I will be introducing a resolution at next Thursday’s City Council meeting calling for the same.
The victims of gun violence deserve better.
David A. Salvatore
Providence City Council
Councilor – Ward 14
by Abigail Appel | Oct 7, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1
The Wayland Square Merchants Association (WSMA) along with Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) and Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2) and the Wayland Square Neighborhood Association (WSNA) will be hosting Autumn Air in the Square, a special event intended to highlight the many restaurants and shops located in Wayland Square beginning on Friday, October 9, 2020, at 4:00 PM.
“I am thrilled to be partnering with these great groups to showcase our merchants and terrific dining options that are available in Wayland Square,” stated Councilman John Goncalves. “Our local businesses have been hit hard by the global pandemic, and I think this is a great way for us to show our local merchants and restaurants our support. The holiday season is not far off, and this is a great time to shop local and be local. I look forward to seeing our neighbors from all over the City visit Wayland Square this holiday weekend.”
Autumn Air in The Square is a three-day indoor and outdoor event meant to encourage residents from across Providence and the region, to visit the shops and restaurants in Wayland Square, and enjoy the beautiful New England fall weather.
“We are so excited to have the support of the City Council, WSNA, and our fellow merchants in the Square for this event. Wayland Square is almost at full capacity and this weekend will serve as a great opportunity to meet some of the new merchants as well as pop into some of your favorite existing merchants,” stated Katy Berard and Victoria Boulis of the Wayland Square Merchants Association.
The weekend’s events will include open-air dining, extended retail hours, activities for families in Patterson Park, a Cider Tasting at McBrides Pub, music, and pop-up shops. A full list of events and participating merchants and restaurants can be found below.
Katherine Touafek, President of the Wayland Square Neighborhood Association stated, “An event like Autumn Air in the Square is exactly what our neighbors have been asking for, and I truly believe that by shining a light on all the great shops and restaurants in our neighborhood will not only benefit the Wayland Square community but the City as well. I look forward to seeing my neighbors and others from across the City enjoying all that Wayland Square has to offer.”
Councilman Goncalves, the Wayland Square Merchants Association, and the Wayland Square Neighborhood Association hope that Autumn Air in the Square will become a signature event for the neighborhood.
“We are proud to partner with our shop owners in creating this wonderful neighborhood event. Please join us as we look forward to meeting all of our neighbors, new and old, and support the wonderful shops and restaurants of Wayland Square,” shared Denise Hill, board member of the Wayland Square Neighborhood Association.
Complete Schedule of Events and Participating Partners:
Friday, October 9, 2020
• Outdoor Dining: 4 PM – 10 PM
• Extended Retail Hours until 9:30 PM
Saturday, October 10, 2020
• Family activities at Paterson Park: 10 AM – 2:00 PM
• Free Family Photos in Paterson Park: 10 AM – 1 PM
• Wayland Square Passport Raffle: 10 AM – 9 PM
• Outdoor Dining: 10 AM – 10 PM
• Cider Tasting Outside of McBrides Pub: 2 PM – 4 PM
• Outdoor Band: 3 PM – 7 PM
• Sweet Treat Stroll: 6 PM – 9 PM
• Extended Store Hours Until 9:30 PM
Sunday, October 11, 2020
• Outdoor Dining: 10 AM – 2 PM
• Bloom Back Flower Popup: 10 AM – 2 PM
• Discounted Selfcare Treatments and Brunch Options
Participating Restaurants:
McBride’s Pub
Red Stripe
Pasta Beach
Wayland Square Diner
The Salted Slate
Madrid European Bakery
Haruki East
Visit @WAYLANDSQUARERI on Instagram for More Details.
by Abigail Appel | Oct 6, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-7
Last night, we learned the disturbing news that a 9-year-old girl was briefly abducted in Providence after getting off of her school bus in the Hartford neighborhood.
This shocking occurrence is currently being investigated by Providence Police. The suspect is reported to have been driving a silver Nissan SUV around Grover Street and Merino Street. We encourage anyone with information regarding this incident to call Detective Captain Tim O’Hara at 401-243-6360 or by email at tohara@providenceri.gov.
Our thoughts are with the afflicted family, and we are hopeful that our Police Department’s thorough investigation will provide them the peace and closure they deserve.
Sabina Matos, President
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 15
John J. Igliozzi, Esq., Majority Whip
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 7
