by Abigail Appel | Aug 26, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
The Department of Public Works is classified as an essential city department and for good reason. The hard work this department performs everyday to keep our streets and sidewalks in good shape, keep trash off of our streets, and our environment safe is vital to the operation of a healthy and prosperous city.
However, this summer we’ve experienced a rampant decline in the quality and frequency of these services due to DPW workers being put on furlough one and two days a week. This decline is of no fault of our hardworking men and women in the DPW, but of the circumstances we are facing due to the above mentioned furloughs.
While we understand that the city must find cost-saving measures to preserve the short-term financial stability of the city, we do not think those savings should come at the price of allowing our city to decline into a hazardous eyesore. Graffiti, illegal dumping, rat infestations have become a serious threat this summer to our residents’ quality of life.
Not only are these issues dangerous to our individual and collective health, but they also affect the community’s self-esteem and pride in their neighborhoods and invite further vandalism and destruction.
This is why we, the undersigned, are requesting that the administration end furlough days for workers in the City’s Department of Public Workers and that we wrap our arms around these exponentially growing issues before they get too out of control. We ask that you join us in asking the administration to bring back our essential workers in the DPW by signing the below petition so that we can restore these necessary services in our community.
Sabina Matos, City Council President, Ward 15
Michael Correia, City Council President Pro Tempore, Ward 6
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader, Ward 5
John J. Igliozzi, Esq., Majority Whip, Ward 7
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Ward 4
Mary Kay Harris, Deputy Majority Leader, Ward 11
Carmen Castillo, Councilwoman, Ward 9
David Salvatore, Councilor, Ward 14
Nirva Lafortune, Councilwoman, Ward 3
Helen Anthony, Esq., Councilwoman, Ward 2
Kat Kerwin, Councilor, Ward 12
James Taylor, Councilman, Ward 8
Pedro Espinal, Councilman, Ward 10
John Goncalves, Councilman, Ward 1
by Billy Kepner | Aug 26, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Late yesterday afternoon and then again later last night, two separate shooting incidents took place on Smith Street. The first took place at the intersection of Smith and River, where it is believed that two cars were chasing each other, and shots were fired. Neither of the vehicles in question was hit. Unfortunately, an uninvolved vehicle was hit by a stray bullet, and thankfully there were no injuries. Thanks to the fine men and women of the Providence Police Department, one of the alleged suspects were apprehended shortly after the incident in the near vicinity.
Then at approximately 11:30 PM last night, two males ages 16 and 20 were shot near the 400 block of Smith Street, and they sustained non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made at this time, and the Police are still investigating.
Our City is facing what seems to be an unprecedented amount of violent crime in the past few weeks. We must work together with our community partners, public safety officials, and elected officials to restore order and peace on our streets.
I am once again committing to advocate for sensible, enforceable, and meaningful gun legislation with our state and federal representatives that would remove guns from those that would use them to do harm, rather than for sport or self-protection.
When these incidents happen in our neighborhoods, witnesses and other concerned neighbors are often not updated on outcomes, and it perpetuates a feeling of considerable uncertainty and fear for those who live in the affected areas.
I plan to introduce a resolution calling on the City’s Public Safety Department to institute a City-wide gun-buy-back program in the hopes of getting some of these weapons off of our streets in the upcoming City Council legislative session beginning in September.
I have been in contact with our police department leadership, and the incidents yesterday are active investigations. As I learn more, I will share with the community as soon as allowed.
Quality of life for our City’s residents is paramount, and something that I fight for every day as a City Councilor.
If you have any information regarding these incidents, please call the Providence Police Department’s non-emergency number at 401-272-1111 or filing a report online at https://bit.ly/PVDPoliceReport
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 5
by Billy Kepner | Aug 25, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
In 2016, we were all saddened to hear that a fire destroyed the Parks Department Grounds Maintenance Facility at Roger Williams Park.
Today, the Parks Department Grounds Maintenance Facility will officially be opened along with the renovated Carriage House. Roger Williams Park is one of the City’s most iconic places, and as a member of the Board of Parks Commissioners, I know how hard Superintendent of Parks Wendy Nilsson and her team worked to rebuild the space.
Public tours are being offered today from 9 am – 1 pm, pre-registration is required. You can do so by visiting the following site:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4caeaa2ba3f8c25-grounds
Congratulations to the Parks Department on these great new upgrades.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Abigail Appel | Aug 24, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
I am calling on Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Providence Police Department to take action regarding the illegal and dangerous use of ATVs on our City Streets. Over the past week, I have received numerous phone calls and emails from constituents who are concerned about and troubled by the frequent ATV traffic throughout Ward 14 and the rest of the City.
Not only is the loud noise created at night by ATVs disrespectful to families with children and workers with early morning shifts, but ATVs also pose a serious threat to the safety of Providence residents, including pedestrians, children, and other drivers. Just last week, an eight-year-old boy was injured in an ATV accident.
I understand that we live in a city and what is not tolerated in other municipalities might be given leeway in dense populations, but putting residents in harm’s way when these vehicles are speeding through our streets and on our City sidewalks is unacceptable.
The current ‘no pursuit’ policy is not working. While our police officers have a responsibility to mitigate any potential for traffic accidents, other drivers and pedestrians live in fear of being hurt or worse by an ATV or dirt bike.
For these reasons, I am asking Mayor Elorza and the Providence Police Department to take decisive action against the illegal use of ATVs and to mitigate threats to the quality of life and safety of our neighbors.
David A. Salvatore
Providence City Council
Councilor – Ward 14
by Abigail Appel | Aug 24, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
Fire Engine 15, Located on Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Reopened Saturday
After Months of Renovations
City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia announced that the Fire Station located on Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Engine 15, has fully reopened, as of Saturday, August 22, and the men and women stationed there have moved back in.
“The fire station needed several upgrades and renovations and after months of work I happy to announce that the project is complete,” stated City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “This project was very important to me and my constituents as Engine 15 is our local station. The station was in desperate need of upgrades and I’m glad that our men and women are back home on Mt. Pleasant Avenue.”
Upgrades and renovations to Engine 15 included new doors and new apparatus bays, lounge area for the firefighters, new bathroom, boiler and emergency generator, and upgrades to plumbing and electrical work.
Pro Tempore Correia continued, “I want to thank the men and women of Engine 15 for bearing with us as we underwent the renovations and would like to thank our contractors and crews for working so hard to get this project completed and this station back online.”
Renovations for Engine 15 came from the City’s Capital Improvement Plan that was passed by the City Council in 2019.
by Billy Kepner | Aug 21, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
In recent weeks, violence has risen in our City to an unacceptable level. We have had five deadly shootings in two weeks. Sin Bakery in Providence’s Federal Hill Neighborhood was robbed, and thousands of dollars were stolen. A home on Hawkins Street in the Wanskuck Neighborhood was robbed of 52 firearms in addition to an early morning homicide inside of a smoke shop. Gun violence and other crimes have occurred in almost every corner of our City. As an elected leader in the City that I love, I won’t sit idly by and watch this happen.
I have been calling on our state and federal leaders to enact legislation that would make it harder – not easier – to access a firearm for those that would do harm to a fellow resident. I have called on our leaders to follow the lead at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and recognize gun violence as a public health crisis, and to reinstate funding for research and other programs that would protect communities like ours. Congress has to get off their hands and stop looking to the NRA and start listening to their constituents.
We can debate the issues of the root causes of this deadly public health crisis. Still, we know they stem from systemic racism, poverty, access to affordable housing, organized crime and in some cases, an individual’s mental well-being. Change has to come, and not just from the top down.
If we are to succeed in stemming the violence and addressing this public health crisis, we must do so together.
We must work with our community members who are in need; we must work with our schools and those entrusted in our care; we must work with our colleagues in government to affect change that can serve the many and not the few and demand that important legislation like prohibiting renter discrimination based on source of income get passed out of committee and become law; we must work with our social service agencies who have their boots on the ground and provide them the support they need, and we must work with our police department to ensure that they have the resources and skills to work inside our culturally diverse communities while holding those accountable who wish to inflict harm on our community.
Until we take this public health crisis seriously and demand that leaders at all levels address the systemic issues at hand, we won’t be able to stem the violence.
I pledge today that I will continue to advocate and work with my colleagues to ensure that we can do whatever is within our power at the local level to keep our city safe from violence. We will continue to urge our state and federal leaders to make change a reality and to invest in finding solutions to this ongoing public health crisis.
David A. Salvatore
Providence City Council
Councilor – Ward 14
