by Billy Kepner | Jul 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Tomorrow, Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) will be introducing two resolutions to rename Obadiah Brown Road and Obadiah Brown Field after former Mayor Patrick J. McCarthy.
“We are living in extraordinary times, young people are calling for change and asking elected leaders to help amplify their voices,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “Obadiah Brown was the owner of the first known Providence-based slave ship, and that is not a legacy that I want to see honored in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Obadiah Brown Road is home to Pleasant View Elementary School, the Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center, and Obadiah Brown Field. Our City’s children should not have to go to a school or play on a road or field named after a slave trader. They deserve better. I believe that naming both the road and field after Patrick J. McCarthy, who was the first foreign-born Mayor of Providence, is a better example of who we should honor in our city.”
Patrick J. McCarthy was born in Greevagh Parish, County Sligo, Ireland, on September 12, 1848. His family immigrated to the United States in 1850 to avoid the potato famine. They were quarantined on Deer Island in Boston Harbor, where his parents died, and he and his five brothers were separated after their quarantine. He lived with various family members and in poor houses growing up in Boston. At the age of 20, he moved to Providence in 1868 and graduated from Harvard School of Law in 1876.
McCarthy became a prominent attorney in Providence, he served on the City Council and was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. In 1906 he was elected as the 24th Mayor of the City of Providence. He was a staunch advocate of progressive “good government,” which included supporting an eight-hour workday for the city’s laborers.
Majority Leader Ryan continued, “I believe that changing the name will help to replace a legacy of slave trading with an important historical figure who represents the ideals that make our country great. The idea he was held by authorities on Deer Island as a child and then separated from his family is all too eerily similar to the horror stories we hear happening today at our border with Mexico. Providence needs to celebrate its rich heritage.”
After passage, the resolution renaming of the field will be transmitted to the Board of Park Commissioners. The resolution to rename the road will be transmitted to the United States Postmaster in Providence, the Office of the Secretary of State, the 911 Emergency System, National Grid, Verizon, Providence Water Supply Board, and to all City Departments.
by Billy Kepner | Jun 29, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-9
Providence City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Today Voted to Rename the Providence Pedestrian Bridge in Memory of Local Civil Rights Advocate Michael S. Van Leesten
This afternoon Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) and Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning announced that they have voted to rename the Providence Pedestrian Bridge in memory of Michael S. Van Leesten, who was a long-time resident of Providence and passed away on August 23, 2019, at the age of 80. The Resolution to change the name of the Pedestrian Bridge was sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos, and Co-Sponsored by the Full Council.
“I worked closely with Mr. Van Leesten over the years, and his loss has left a hole in the fabric of our city,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris. “I can think of no better way than to honor the memory of a man who built bridges within the community than by renaming the Providence Pedestrian Bridge in memory and in honor of the significant contributions he made to this City and our State.”
Mr. Michael S. Van Leesten was a graduate of Hope High School. After graduation, he served his nation as a communications specialist in the United States Air Force, and upon discharge, he attended Rhode Island College, where he was a star basketball player. After he graduated college in 1965, he became active in the Civil Rights Movement. He participated in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Summer Conference on Community Organizing and Political Education Project (SCLC SCOPE) in Choctaw County, Alabama.
City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) shared, “Mr. Van Leesten was a giant amongst men, and he did so much for our city, state, and nation. I commend my colleague Chairwoman Harris for pushing this forward. When young and old cross that bridge, may it be a reminder of the good that can be done when you do the work like Mr. Van Leesten did.”
At SCLC SCOPE, he, along with six other college students, worked doing community organizing and voter registration in rural Alabama during the height of the Civil Rights struggle. He spoke of his time in the Movement as a “defining moment in my life.” He believed that singular experience made him a better person, a better husband, a better father, and a better community leader.
“I want to thank Chairwoman Harris for bringing this important matter to the committee,” stated Vice-Chairman Nicholas J. Narducci Jr (Ward 4). “I was proud to be a Co-sponsor, along with all my fellow members on the City Council. His life’s work deserves to be remembered and honored.”
Van Leesten served as the Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rhode Island, which he helped found, for more than 15years. He had a successful consulting business, and also served as the Director of Planning and Development for the City of Providence. Additionally, he then went on to be the Director of Public Affairs for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe from 1994 to 2006, eventually returning to the role at the OIC from 2006 until his passing in August of 2019.
He was a board member of numerous organizations, including the Board of Regents, Peerless Precision, and Fleet Bank. He was also awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Roger Williams College, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island.
Mr. Van Leesten is survived by his former spouses Natalie E. Brown, Andrea G. Van Leesten, and Paula Van Leesteen, and his loving children Jill, Michael, Ayyub, Andrew, Jordan, and Alexis, and his beloved grandchildren Aliza, Aaron, Az-Zubair, and Huria, and his siblings Rashad Munir, David Van Leesten, Lisa Van Leesten, and Dorothy “Dee Dee” Van Lesten, and was predeceased by his brother Karriem Muhammad (ne Hendrik Van Leesten Jr.) and both his beloved parents.
Michael S. Van Leesten was and will continue to be a beloved and admired member of the community, and his energy and smile have been missed by all that knew him. Upon passage from Committee, it will go before the City Council, where it will be voted on by the Full Council. Then it will be sent to Mayor Elorza for his signature.
by Billy Kepner | Jun 26, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1
The Partnership for Providence Parks, Friends of Cabral Park, iPROV Fellow Eleanor Pereboom and Councilman Goncalves
Create Food Share Partnership for the Fox Point Community
Today, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) has announced the launch of a robust community partnership with the Friends of Cabral Park, Providence Partnership for Parks spearheaded by Helene Miller, and iProv Fellow Eleanor Pereboom to provide a safe and reliable food source for the Fox Point community. The program is especially designed for senior citizens who live adjacent to the Park, and the partnership aims to develop community-driven food justice in Fox Point. “Produce in the Park” will officially begin in early July.
“As we are still facing a global pandemic, our elderly population is vulnerable, and we know that access to locally harvested and sustainably grown healthy foods like fruits and vegetables are an essential element in boosting our immune systems,” stated Councilman John Goncalves. “My concern is for our seniors who live in Fox Point and are on a fixed income and don’t always have equitable access to quality fruits and vegetables. I am very pleased that I was able to join forces with these amazing community partners to create an equitable and sustainable food source in our community.”
Although the program does not officially begin until July, Cricket Wireless will be giving away 100 donated bags of fresh groceries to seniors at Fox Point Manor today at 2:00 PM. They will first meet Councilman Goncalves, Helen Miller, Eleanor Pereboom, and community volunteers to pack today’s bags of fresh fruits and veggies at 1:00 PM in Cabral Park. They will then deliver to the management at Fox Point Manor for contactless delivery.
Corey Beverly, Senior Marketing Manager at Cricket Wireless stated, “This event is just one of the food distribution activities Cricket is spearheading in markets across the country throughout the month of June. These initiatives are a part of Cricket Cares platform, which is dedicated to building healthy human connections for happier youth and seniors. Through Cricket Cares, Cricket supports people of all ages by fostering kindness, encouraging healthy mobile habits, and providing additional resources to help individuals overcome challenging times.”
The partnership developed out of the concern around the health risks of crowded public spaces and a scant supply of fresh fruits and vegetable accessibility for vulnerable seniors. Produce in the Park will be offering bountiful shares of locally sourced produce, pre-packaged and available for open-air pick up in a de-densified environment to keep residents safe and well-fed.
“The Partnership for Providence Parks (P3) provides support and resources for neighbors that we call Friends who seek to transform their public parks into thriving green spaces that reflect the unique needs and character of their community. At the core of P3’s mission is the building and strengthening of Friends Groups. Pre-COVID 19, P3 had the honor of working alongside the seniors forming a Friends of Cabral Park with plans to activate the park as a hub of health, wellness, and cultural activities during the summer. Once the pandemic began, the seniors’ need for food access came into sharp focus and the group had the idea to use the park and their Park Friends Group as platforms to address their food insecurity. The Friends worked in partnership with P3, Councilman Goncalves, and P3’s iPROV Fellow, Eleanor Pereboom, to develop “Produce in the Parks”. Today’s distribution of one hundred bags of produce marks the first step in realizing this goal of the Friends of Cabral Park to address the needs of their own community” says Helene Miller, Executive Director of P3.
Produce in the Park is a 10-week subscription program where residents will pick up a carefully curated box of locally sourced vegetables. The program will begin July 8, 2020, and run through September 9, 2020, with pick-up on Wednesday’s from 10 am – 6 pm in Cabral Park on Wickenden Street. Produce shares are $21 per week ($210 for the season). Shareholders can sign up using the form below, which helps subsidize seniors:
Payments can be made weekly but shareholders must commit to the full 10-week program, and SNAP/Bonus Bucks are accepted. For individuals with SNAP/Bonus Bucks the cost will be $4.50 per week.
“We are thrilled that these community partners have come together to offer our residents healthy fruits and vegetables. I look forward to the launch of this program and are grateful to all involved” says the Fox Point Manor Resident Services Coordinator, Gloria Isacco, and Property Manager Karen Fagundes.
Produce shares consist of 7-8 share items each week, sourced from local farms that commit to sustainable growing practices to ensure the highest quality for residents. Every week the box will be different based on what is in season. An example share might look like: one pound of cucumbers, one head of lettuce, three peaches, one pound of tomatoes, one bunch of scallions, two ears of corn, and one summer squash.
“The Providence Parks Department is pleased that an accessible neighborhood park will be utilized for the Produce in the Parks program,” said Providence Parks Department Superintendent Wendy Nilsson. “We hope the program will increase food access and encourage the use of many of the City’s beautiful greenspaces to support healthy engagement all summer long.”
In order to keep the community safe, the following COVID-19 Safety Protocols will be in place: masks are required for all; everyone must remain 6-feet apart; anyone who feels sick will be asked to stay home, and the partnership will arrange home delivery; share pick-up times will be pre-assigned to ensure that no more than 15 people are in the Park at any given time; produce will be pre-bagged so that the number of people who touch any given produce item is limited, and finally the program encourages shareholders to thoroughly wash any produce before consuming it.
by Billy Kepner | Jun 25, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-8
Today, the City announced that they would be removing the Christopher Columbus Statue and will be placing it in storage during the renovations of Columbus Square.
This decision was made by the Administration and the Superintendent of Parks, to keep the statue safe during renovation and to ensure an equitable and open process going forward.
After the completion of the project, I will ask that the City’s Special Committee on Commemorative Works which I am a member of, bring this before their body to hear the community’s input on the statue. Any decision they render will then go to the Board of Park Commissioners for final discussion and decision.
James E. Taylor
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 8
by Abigail Appel | Jun 25, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11
Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) joined Kobe Dennis, the YMCA of Greater Providence, the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging and her neighbors at Wiggin Village to kick off a new food and fitness program.
“The health and wellbeing of our neighbors is always a top priority, especially in times of a global pandemic. As a community, we must work to adapt to these changing times while staying at our best mentally and physically,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Harris.
Nearly 100 older adults will be receiving twice-weekly meals from now until August, along with exercise bands, fitness instruction, and nutrition tips. Wiggin Village is located in the West End neighborhood of Providence, an area that has one of the largest COVID-19 positive cases in the City.
‘I am so grateful to the YMCA, the Office of Healthy Aging, and the local restaurants who have all worked together to create healthy outcomes for residents in our neighborhood,” added Deputy Majority Leader Harris.
The goal of this program is to encourage a healthy lifestyle among residents throughout the changes that come with social distancing. Currently, the pilot program is prepared to run through August, but may be extended if there is a need and if additional funding is available.
by Billy Kepner | Jun 25, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
The Providence Police and Fire Departments in coordination with the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office has organized a task force dedicated specifically to curb the use of fireworks due to the recent uptick in our city over the past few weeks. Beginning today, June 25th at 7:00 p.m. there will be a dedicated task force of approximately a dozen law enforcement officials working the streets from Thursday through Saturday, responsible for responding to the increased calls for fireworks and noise related incidents.
“Here in Rhode Island, ground-based fireworks and handheld sparklers are legal. But given the cancellation of a number of recent fireworks displays locally, illegal fireworks have become more accessible to the public,” said Colonel Clements. “This has not only been a local but nationwide problem and with this comprehensive effort we will do our due diligence to ensure that this does not continue to be a nuisance within our neighborhoods.”
“This is a great step forward and I commend the leadership of Chief Clements and State Fire Marshal Timothy P. Mclaughlin for their initiative. When I convened a group of City stakeholders last week to discuss this quality of life nuisance, we identified three main areas that need to be addressed: public education on what is and isn’t legal; licensing enforcement for businesses that are illegally selling fireworks; and a coordinated effort by public safety officials to laser focus on hot spot or problematic areas. I am optimistic that this task force is exactly the type of coordination that will help alleviate the problem,” stated City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan.
“Our office has received many more complaints about illegal fireworks this year than in any past years,” said RI State Fire Marshal Timothy P. Mclaughlin. “We are happy to join the Providence Police and Providence Fire departments on this task force to limit the use of illegal fireworks in our neighborhoods.”
–This is a press release of the Providence Police Department
