by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6) will introduce four resolutions regarding neighborhood improvements in his Ward.
“I continue to fight for important neighborhood upgrades in my Ward. Improvements such as traffic safety measures and small beautification updates, all add up to improving the quality of life in the Manton neighborhood,” stated President Pro Tempore Michael Correia.
The first resolution requests that the City Forester replace trees along Atwells Avenue removed during a sidewalk replacement. The requested trees’ site is between Academy Avenue and Mt. Pleasant Avenue and will help beautify the neighborhood. This particular stretch of street is heavily trafficked, and having new trees planted will play an essential role in air pollution mitigation.
The second resolution requests that the Department of Public Property install a gate at the District 6 Police Substation parking lot entrance.
The third resolution requests the installation of a crosswalk at the Manton Skate Park entrance by the Department of Public Works and the City Traffic Engineer. Pro Tempore Correia recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly renovated Manton Skate Park, located at 588 Manton Avenue, and believes that this crosswalk will help keep pedestrians and cyclist safe as they visit the park and the Greenway.
The final resolution, a traffic calming request, calls on the Department of Public Works and the City Traffic Engineer to install additional safety signage along Manton Avenue. Specifically, the resolution requests a “SLOW CURVE” notification along the 800 block of Manton Avenue.
“I look forward to seeing these community improvements completed, and I extend my gratitude to the men and women of the DPW, Public Property, and the Parks Department who collaborate to make our City clean, safe and livable,” added President Pro Tempore Michael Correia.
by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-13, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-8
At tomorrow’s City Council Meeting, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) will propose a resolution requesting that Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Providence Board of Licenses create a payment plan option for restaurants and bars looking to renew their liquor licenses for 2021. The resolution is co-sponsored by President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), and Councilors Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Rachel Miller (Ward 13), James Taylor (Ward 8), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), and John Goncalves (Ward 1).
On the first of December each year, any restaurant or bar in the City of Providence with an existing liquor license must apply for a license renewal. This process can cost up to $3,000.00 and is overseen by the Board of Licenses. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upset the economy, this large fee could significantly strain many struggling restaurants and bar owners.
“Providence is home to some of the best restaurants in the region. We have seen several restaurants that have had to close their businesses due to the ongoing pandemic. The trickle-down effect of those closures means residents have lost jobs, owners have lost their livelihoods, and in many cases, their dreams. Further, when a business closes, it creates losses in tax revenue for the City. We need to do what we can to support them. Our city is a destination because of our unique and diverse culinary and bar scene. As City leaders, we need to do whatever we can to ease the financial burdens that they are currently facing. I want to thank Brendan McCaughey, who brought this to our attention, and worked with Council Staff to better understand the needs of our license holders,” stated Council President Matos.
“The City of Providence must follow in the footsteps of our neighbors in Warwick and Pawtucket,” stated Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “A liquor license is an integral part of any restaurant or bar operation. As business owners struggle to comply with new guidelines and grapple with financial loss, we must provide avenues for them to remain operational and on sound footing. A phased payment plan will surely help.”
In response to similar challenges, the Cities of Warwick and Pawtucket have already enacted similar plans, allowing license holders to adopt payment plans rather than paying all at once. While the cost will remain the same, this payment plan method aims to make the renewal fee easier to bear.
“It is critical that we take immediate action to support struggling restaurant and bar owners and do what we can to help them remain operational and fluid. This pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives, and our small business community – including restaurants and bars – have been hit hard. The livelihood of many depend on this relief,” stated Councilor Rachel Miller.
Brendan McCaughey, the owner of Nolan’s Pub, stated, “I would like to thank the City Council, in particular, Councilwomen Matos and Miller, for their swift attention to this matter. As the weather turns cold and outdoor seating becomes impractical, many bar and restaurant owners are concerned about how to financially survive the winter. I think I speak for all of my fellow license holders when I say that any payment relief from the City’s license renewal fees will be a tremendous help at a time when some of us desperately need it.”
Upon passage, copies of this resolution will be sent to Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Providence Board of Licenses.
by Abigail Appel | Sep 29, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
On Friday, September 25, 2020, three Providence businesses were awarded with a Providence Commercial Corridor Micro-Business Loan. This program was created by the Providence Revolving Fund in collaboration with the Providence City Council.
The Family Bakery located at 243 Manton Avenue, El Primo Fruits & Vegetables located at 212 Manton Avenue and Iluminada Hair Salon & Barber at 161 Manton Avenue all received financing to help address necessary safety measures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Council President Sabina Matos and Providence Revolving Fund Director Carrie Zaslow visited the three businesses to congratulate the owners, and learn more about how they will use their funding to meet the current conditions required by the State’s response for reopening of businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Congratulations and best of luck to Juan Lantigua, owner of The Family Bakery; Ramon Hernandez, owner of El Primo Fruits and Vegetables; and Virgen Borges, owner of Iluminada Hair Salon and Barber Shop.
These are difficult times for many local businesses throughout the City of Providence and this loan program has been created in an effort to mitigate the financial stresses caused by this global pandemic and the changing health and safety regulations for business owners.
If you are interested in applying for the Providence Commercial Corridor Micro-Business Loan, please visit the City Council website here: https://bit.ly/3je4DEd to see if you qualify and to learn how to apply.
A local bakery, grocer or hair salon are all key threads in the fabric of a neighborhood, and are important parts of creating community. Not only do they provide goods and services to their neighborhoods, but these small businesses also provide a livelihood for those who work hard to keep them up and running. For this reason, the Providence City Council is committed to assisting local business through these trying times. We take pride in our neighborhoods and the men and women who run the small businesses that are the economic engines of our city of neighborhoods.
Council President Matos, President of Providence Revolving Fund Carrie Zaslow and Ramon Hernandez, owner of El Primo Fruits and Vegetables located at 212 Manton Ave
Council President Matos, President of Providence Revolving Fund Carrie Zaslow and Juan Lantigua, owner of The Family Bakery located at 243 Manton Ave
Virgen Borges holds her check outside of her business, Illuminada Hair Salon and Barber Shop at 161 Manton Ave
by Billy Kepner | Sep 25, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-8
As a member of the City Council’s Committee on Finance, I am uniquely aware of the complexities and the precarious state of Providence’s finances. I am disappointed that the administration has contracted with a firm that is not local or not using current staff to do the audit.
I hope that the intention is to look at the full scope of our public safety division, and not just our police department. Further, I have several questions regarding the public safety division’s budget.
First, we have not had a Fire Chief in nearly six years, the entire term of this Mayor. That position is listed in the City’s budget at $175,000 per year, yet, that money is never leftover – year over year. So, where is that money going? Second, when so many individuals are out of work and the City has put our staff on a furlough program, why is there a request for a $40,000 increase in the Commissioner’s salary? Finally, the Commissioner is the City’s acting Fire Chief and has no experience as a firefighter. The administration is in violation of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Providence as we are improperly paying individuals without the requisite expertise and paying out of classification for more than 90 days!
Under Mayor Cicilline we did not have a Public Safety Commissioner. The police and fire chief reported directly to the Mayor. By reverting to this model, we would save significant dollars that could be reinvested in the social service programs that the City is already contracted with, and have stated repeatedly that they could do more if funding allowed.
I hope that any resources cut from the budget are not these very important social service collaborators. The Committee on Finance has met and learned about the great work these organizations are doing in our City and in conjunction with public safety every day.
James E. Taylor
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 8
by Billy Kepner | Sep 24, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
I am disappointed that Mayor Elorza has only elected to review the budget of one department out of nearly fifty under the City’s purview. Why and what will this accomplish? We know that the Providence Police Department is not funded at capacity and that even if it were; we don’t have enough officers to be in each of our neighborhoods to deal with the quality of life issues that so many people call their Councilor’s about; like ATVs and motorbikes, fireworks, and other nuisance issues.
The incidents of police brutality that have occurred around the United States have rarely happened here, and when it has, our Chief of Police has acted swiftly and beyond reproach. This administration seems to be singling out one department when we are facing a fiscal cliff like we have not seen since the Great Recession of 2008. The City should have hired an outside firm to look at all of the city departments to see how we can best navigate these difficult times.
Instead, we are sending a message to the very people that we ask to protect us – that they are devalued. Every day our men and women of the Providence Police Department go to work to serve and protect us, the residents of Providence. If it were not for police officers like Officer Jose Deschamps, the Figueroa family would have lost their 8-month old baby boy, Dylan. This is one example of the hundreds of acts of bravery and courage that our officers have shown daily. Even when they are being called names, having bottles thrown at them, spit on, and all the while, they stand by to ensure the safety of those same people.
I see this as nothing more than political grandstanding and a waste of money that we could have used to invest in social service programs to build a better and more resilient community.
I’m not going to say that there have not been bad cops or cops that would do harm based on a bias. There most certainly has, and unfortunately, there will be again, but those individuals must be rooted out, and our Chief of Police is committed to doing just that. We need to provide more supports to our officers who are working longer hours, with fewer officers in the division, and doing more with less.
If we are to review one department, let’s review them all. Certainly, we can find abundant cost savings in other departments to keep our City fiscally afloat and address the social service needs that are lacking and taking our officers away from crime prevention and reduction.
Nicholas J. Narducci, Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Billy Kepner | Sep 19, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
We want to thank the Providence College administration for their swift action in the wake of the 120+ positive cases of COVID-19 amongst their student body.
As a community, we must remain vigilant in our fight against the virus. We know that by wearing face coverings, hand washing, staying home when we feel sick, limiting the number of interactions we have with others, and using hand sanitizer we can do our part to protect ourselves and others. The world’s leading epidemiologists have all shared concerns that as the fall approaches that we would see a resurgence of the virus, and that remains true.
We all have a role to play in keeping our community safe, including the student population that live in close quarters. That’s why it is so important for our student population to adhere to social distancing mandates and the number of people that can gather at any one time. To not only keep themselves safe, but the residents that live around and work on the campus.
Providence College has been in constant contact with the Rhode Island Department of Health and the City of Providence from the beginning of this current incident. In addition, to implement and enforce the stay-at-home order, the college has contracted with the Providence Police Department at their expense and are deploying their own security team.
As elected officials, we are concerned for the safety of our community. We ask that you please wear a mask, practice social distancing, limit your interactions with as few people as possible, get your flu shot, and remember that the State is offering free asymptomatic testing.
Please visit pvdcovid19.com for the latest City information and call your physician or visit health.ri.gov if you feel like you need to be tested.
