by Abigail Appel | Oct 5, 2020 | Council News, Ward-11
On Friday, October 2, 2020, City Council Deputy Majority Leader May Kay Harris was joined by Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia and Councilwoman Carmen Castillo at Lockwood Plaza for a food distribution and census event.
Nearly 400 boxes of food were passed out to residents along with face masks and assistance with completing the 2020 Census.
All of these services are especially needed right now, as communities face economic hardships and the COVID-19 Pandemic, and as the 2020 Census comes to an end. The City Council has worked closely with community organizations, including The Elisha Project, the Rhode Island Census, and the Rhode Island Professional Latino Association to organize these events and pull together resources like food, face masks, and Census volunteers.
Along with Councilwoman Harris and her fellow Councilors, many community partners also pitched in to make this event happen. Stephanie Fortunado of Providence Arts, Culture + Tourism, Dr. Wayne Montague and Lori Richie of Winn Residentials, Property manager of Lockwood Jacklyn Gonzalez, Providence Police Lieutenant Barros and Helene Miller of Partnership for Providence Parks, all lent a helping hand.
The collaboration between these many community leaders and organizations is precisely what the City of Providence needs right now. Despite the troubling circumstances, when we all bring our skills, resources, and compassion to the table, we can make big things happen.
From feeding her community to making sure that every single Rhode Islander is counted in the 2020 Census, Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris remains a dedicated community leader. She continues to make strides in improving the quality of life and access to resources in her beloved neighborhood.
by Billy Kepner | Oct 4, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-7
Today Councilman John J. Igliozzi, Esq. honored the life and legacy of former Councilman Philip A. Almagno, also known as Sharkey to his close friends and family, alongside Council President Sabina Matos, Councilor David A. Salvatore, Senator Frank Ciccone III, the Almagno family, and numerous longtime family friends at a ceremony in a small piazza across from Councilman Almagno’s family home.
Councilman Almagno passed away at age 90 on January 12, 2018, a lifelong resident of Silver Lake, and lived on Pocasset Avenue for most of his adult life. The piazza where his memorial is located at the intersection of Pocasset Avenue and Sophia Street directly adjacent to his family home.
Councilman Almagno served two terms as the Councilman representing Ward 7 from 1975 until 1982.
He was the Chief of Weights and Measures for the City of Providence from 1982 – 2003 after which he became a private contractor for the State of Rhode Island: Dept. of Weights and Measures until retiring in 2012.
He also owned and operated Sharkey’s Wholesale Fruit and Produce.
He was also a U.S. Navy Veteran and a Member of the Public employees’ Local 1033. He was an avid gardener and New York Yankee fan. He was known to rally both Yankee and Red Sox fans from Silver Lake for annual trips to see the two teams play in New York City.
Councilman Almagno was very active in the community and was a member of the St. Bartholomew Holy Name Society, Sons of Italy, Piava Lodge, President of the Rosario Society, Past President of the Holy Name Society, and the Seventh Ward Democratic Committee.
In addition, he belonged to the RI Bocce League, United Commercial Travelers, Hope Council Knights of Columbus, Olneyville Little League, Pontecorvo Reunion Committee, Silver Lake Annex Board, and the Providence Fraternal Order of Police.
He was married to Lucy and was the father of Sandra, Cathy, John, Nancy, and the late Ann Marie. He was the grandfather of Melissa, Laurie, Nicholas, John Jr., Kimberly Stephen; and the great grandfather of Mason, Dylan, Lincoln, and Guiliana; he was the brother of Connie Martinelli and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
He was honored at a mass this morning by the Rosario Society and it was a beautiful morning to remember the contributions he made over his decades-long life of service to the Silver Lake neighborhood and to Providence.
by Billy Kepner | Oct 3, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4) today was on site where work was completed on the Hopkins Field Restoration Project.
“Today, I joined Superintendent of Parks Wendy Nilsson, Deputy Superintendent of Parks Brian Byrnes, Supervisor Joe Salem, and several members of the Parks Department to see the completion of the Hopkins Field Restoration project ” stated Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. “Our Parks Department is second to none, and they worked very hard to make sure that Hopkins Field was restored and will soon be available for our neighborhood athletes, young and old.”
The work performed today for the turf renovation at Hopkins Field included thatching, aerating, slice seeding, top dressing, and over-seeding the entire area. Eight members of the Parks Department worked for more than eight hours to complete this renovation.
Materials included 800 lbs. of seed and 20 yards of screened loam. In addition, tractors were used to aerate, thatch, and over-seed the field. Careful care and concept were used in this operation to ensure that the field will start to germinate in five to seven days. Please note that sprinklers are scheduled to run three times per day to keep the area moist which is necessary for seed germination.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Narducci continued, “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Wendy, Brian, Joe, and all the members of the Parks Department for their hard work and dedication to making sure that our neighborhood parks and green spaces are so expertly cared for. We are lucky to have such dedicated individuals who are willing to give up their Saturday to make Ward 4 shine. Thank you to one and all.”
by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-2, Ward-3
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Councilor David A. Salvatore (Ward 14) proposed a resolution requesting that the Department of Public Works create an online application process for overnight parking permits in the City of Providence. This resolution has been co-sponsored by Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1), and Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3).
“The Department of Public Works is tasked with providing efficient, cost-efficient and high-quality services to Providence residents. The current overnight parking application process is just not meeting that standard. An online process would be safer, more efficient, and will hopefully increase compliance with overnight parking regulations in our City,” stated Councilor David Salvatore.
Overnight parking permits allow residents to park on selected residential streets overnight. Currently, the Department of Public Works requires applications for these permits to be filed in person. Due to COVID-19, in-person interactions have become an inconvenience and risk for both residents and City personnel.
“Many residents in Ward 13 rely on overnight-parking permits to ensure that they can safely and legally park their car on residential streets. This is a necessary City service for constituents without ample parking at their residence, which is a reality for many city dwellers. However, the process for obtaining a permit has become burdensome within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution offers a safer, easier way to obtain a permit,” stated Councilor Rachel Miller.
COVID-19 has prompted many City services to transition to remote access, and many City resources are available online. While the overnight parking permit application is available to download online, the application must be submitted in person at the Traffic Engineering Building (700 Allens Avenue) or at the Municipal Court located at the Public Safety Complex (325 Washington Street).
“Current circumstances have forced us to re-evaluate our old ways of doing business. In many cases, this has helped municipalities find more efficient ways to serve their constituents. I believe that this initiative to move the overnight parking permit application process online will better serve the community and will make the process simpler for the Department of Public Works,” added Councilor David Salvatore.
Upon passage, copies of this resolution will be shared with Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Department of Public Works.
by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
The City Council voted this evening to pass a change to the Code of Ordinances, giving authority to the Providence Redevelopment Agency (PRA) to borrow up to $20-Millon to capitalize the Providence Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Fund). The Council’s Committee on Ordinances, chaired by Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), moved for full council approval of the amendment to the Code of Ordinances at their meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.
“The City Council is making a historic and meaningful commitment to addressing the shortage of affordable housing,” stated Majority Leader Ryan. “The Fund was created by the City Council in 2019, in collaboration with its affordable housing partners, earmarking 10% of all TSA payments to provide the basis for the Fund. The $20 Million is anticipated to make up to 1,500 affordable homes possible in the next three years for Providence residents. The Fund is intended to provide critically needed gap financing to encourage the production, preservation, and protection of affordable housing. I want to thank Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, my fellow committee members, our affordable housing partners, City finance teams, and Council colleagues past and present for their hard work on this important topic.”
“Affordable housing is a basic human right,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). “I have been working on equity in housing for far too long, and this is the first major investment that I have seen made to address the issue in our City. I want to thank my Council colleagues for supporting this measure and their steadfast dedication to ensuring that we do all we can to address this pressing need. During the Fane Tower hearings, many residents spoke up and spoke loudly about the need for affordable housing, and I heard them. As we live through this pandemic, where so many are out of work, and where housing insecurity is coming into full focus, I am beyond proud that this body has acted and can take such a monumental step for our residents.”
The change to the Code of Ordinances approves the Providence Redevelopment Agency (PRA) to seek a bond of up to $20 Million to capitalize the Council’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Fund, created in 2019, is an important City Council initiative that ensures that developers seeking tax relief are also investing in the City through their Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs). These agreements provide a structured tax phase-in for large scale development in the City and include specific clauses whereby the developer must invest into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and meet a host of other obligations. Ten percent of the TSA’s total estimated value must be deposited into The Fund, which is managed by the PRA.
City Council President Sabina Matos stated, “TSAs are an integral part of growing our City and our tax base. Yet, it is imperative that developers also invest in the community. When we created the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, we did so to ensure that our investors were putting skin in the game and that we were creating a dedicated funding stream to create much needed affordable housing units in Providence. By moving forward with this ordinance to allow capitalization of The Fund, we will be able to do just that. I want to thank Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris for her tenacity in shepherding this important legislation through the Council.”
The additional bond funding could allow for nearly 1,500 affordable housing units to be added to the City’s housing stock. The PRA will mandate that all rental units created through this program be rented at 80 percent or less than the area median income (AMI) and no more than 120 percent of the AMI for multi-family homes. This funding is intended to be used as gap dollars to help fulfill the needs of developers and our housing partners, like local Community Development Corporations, to achieve their goal of creating affordable housing units throughout Providence.
Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins of One Neighborhood Builders stated, “Housing stability is the greatest economic challenge our residents face. Now more than ever, we need to ensure families and residents, despite their income, have access to safe, quality housing they can afford. Affordable housing promotes neighborhood stability and enables families and residents to thrive.”
“We are excited to see the City taking such an important step to support the production of much-needed affordable housing in Providence,” said Carol Ventura, Executive Director of RIHousing. “Many funding programs are over-subscribed, leaving developers searching for additional funds to close the gap and move projects forward. This new funding stream will be critical to creating and preserving affordable homes, spurring economic activity and creating jobs.”
This change to the Code of Ordinances will dramatically impact the community and our ability as a City to ensure that affordable housing can be developed and that residents can live and work in Providence without being house burdened.
by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-13, Ward-4, Ward-6
Councilman James E. Taylor (Ward 8) will introduce an Ordinance that requests the City of Providence and the City Tax Collector to suspend all tax sales for this fiscal year (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021) at this evenings City Council meeting. The Ordinance is co-sponsored by President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), and Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13).
As of yesterday, 8,344 Providence residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Due to this ongoing global pandemic small businesses are shuttering, unemployment rates are still at high levels, and housing insecurity is becoming a greater risk for residents.
“As a City, we have an obligation to our residents to protect their interests, and with so many residents out of work, they have to make choices between food, mortgage, and taxes. Although we are asking the Tax Collector to suspend tax sales, nothing in this Ordinance shall in any way impact the Collector’s ability to collect interest on unpaid taxes as prescribed by law. Our residents and our neighbors need some relief, and the fear of losing their home to a tax sale is a relief that we as a City can provide,” stated Councilman James E. Taylor.
A property is subject to a “tax sale” when the taxes are seriously delinquent, and the city asks an interested third party to pay the taxes. In exchange for the payment, the city puts a tax lien on the property in favor of the party who paid the taxes. The property owner has a year and a day to pay the third party the back taxes and fees. If they cannot, the third party has the right to take title to the property through the court. The proceeding is called “foreclosing the right of redemption.”
Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia stated, “Although we know the City is facing serious financial difficulties, we need to put the needs of our residents first. We don’t yet have a budget for this fiscal year and continue to operate on the previous year’s budget. Tax sales do provide some relief to the budget, but it’s very small. The City will be made whole in the following fiscal year, and residents will have the time they need to find the financial assistance they may need to keep their properties.”
The proposed Ordinance being presented tonight would suspend all authority for a tax sale pursuant to the Providence Code of Ordinances. While the Collector may utilize his state-mandated authority to still move forward with a tax sale for the current fiscal year, the passage of this ordinance removes all authority granted to the Collector by the Council to do so.
“Last year only 100 residential properties were part of the fiscal year 2020 tax sale,” stated Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. “Residents have a year and a day to pay the back taxes and fees to retain ownership, but during these uncertain financial times we need to help where we can. I hope the Collector and the City will agree that we can delay a tax sale by one year to provide homeowners the time they need to pay their back taxes and provide the security that these residents need.”
Councilor Rachel Miller shared, “I have spoken to many residents who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The stimulus of $600.00 that was given weekly to unemployed residents has ended, and with the current COVID-19 aid package stuck in the United States Senate, our neighbors are trying to make ends meet. As an elected leader, I feel we have an obligation to support our residents when we can, and I urge the City and the Collector to consider suspending this year’s tax sale to help keep our residents in their homes without the added fear of losing it due to their inability to pay their taxes.”
The Ordinance will be sent to the Council’s Committee on Ordinances for further review and discussion.
