by Council Staff | Mar 9, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, Justin Roias, Press Release
Today, the Providence City Council announced the formation of a working group on its role in Providence Public School District (PPSD) governance—a focused, time-limited body tasked with preparing the Council for its responsibilities when PPSD returns to local control. The working group’s efforts will complement ongoing work led by the Mayor’s administration, the Providence School Board, PPSD, and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), including the Mayor’s Return to Local Control Cabinet established in 2023 and RIDE’s Stakeholder Collaboration Working Group established in 2024. While current governance rests with RIDE and future governance would rest with the School Board, this group’s focus is ensuring that, when the City Council is asked to fulfill its role, it does so effectively.
“The City has been doing an incredible job working with the schools to prepare for return to local control. City Council wants to ensure we are prepared to make that transition as effectively as possible,” said Working Group Chair Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2). “This Working Group is an opportunity for us to identify any related matters that require City Council’s attention and action ahead of time, and I am looking forward to working with this group of stakeholders who are contributing truly meaningful insight and experience.”
PPSD has been under State intervention since the 2019–2020 school year. In 2024, the intervention was extended through 2027, though the Council, Mayor, and School Board are requesting a return to local governance this summer. When governance returns to the City, Providence will assume significant fiscal and structural responsibilities related to the District. The City Council plays a direct role in that process through its authority to appropriate funding for PPSD and oversee procurement. The working group will examine what the Council needs in place to effectively fulfill those responsibilities.
The members of the working group include:
- Jill S. Davidson, Providence City Council, Chair
- Justin Roias, Providence City Council
- Nathan Biah, Rhode Island General Assembly State Representative
- Heidi Silviero, Providence School Board
- Sheila Dormody, City of Providence, Chief of Policy and Resiliency
- Paula Dillon, Providence Public Schools, Deputy Superintendent of Academics
- Drew Echelson, Rhode Island Department of Education, Deputy Commissioner
- Cindy Robles, Providence Teachers Union, President
- Melissa Hughes, PPSD parent
- Aubrey Johnson, PPSD parent
- Student Representatives from the OurSchoolsPVD Alliance
The working group will focus on practical questions tied to the Council’s role, including how municipal appropriations for the District should be structured, what financial safeguards and reporting structures would support effective budget oversight, and how coordination should occur among the Council, the Mayor’s administration, and the School Board during and following the transition. The group will also review the long-term financial sustainability of the District budget and other factors that may affect the City’s responsibilities.
The group will receive briefings from municipal finance professionals, individuals familiar with school governance transitions, and other subject matter experts. Community input will also be welcomed as the work proceeds. The working group aims to complete its work by June 5, 2026, producing a written summary of findings and considerations to inform future Council deliberations on budget and policy matters.
Note: Aubrey Johnson was not included in an earlier version of this press release.
by Council Staff | Feb 5, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, John Goncalves, Oscar Vargas, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson, Sue AnderBois
Providence, RI – Tonight, the Providence City Council held a full meeting in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall.
Councilors unanimously approved a resolution denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s campaign of aggression around the country, and specifically the unjust killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were tragically killed by immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. As communities organize to support and protect each other from these violent, reckless attacks, Providence councilors extend solidarity and support to the people of Minneapolis.
“Federal officers are leading a campaign of terror in Providence and around the country, violating the constitutional rights of residents en masse,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “Today we stand with Minneapolis, and we rise together to defend democracy here and everywhere by calling on our Congressional delegation to abolish an agency that is perverting the principles of justice and fair treatment under the law.”
As Providence residents continue to report difficulty navigating snow and ice on the city’s streets, several councilors introduced a resolution seeking information, reflection, and accountability on the City’s storm preparation and management. The City Council’s Committee on Public Works held a public meeting with DPW leadership to discuss the handling of the storm on Tuesday, February 3. The resolution, which requests a formal report from the Department of Public Works, was referred to the Committee on Public Works.
“Obviously, a combination of intense snow accumulation, extreme cold, and insufficient resources led to a less-than-stellar response by DPW,” said Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14). “I look forward to reading DPW’s report so we can join the Administration in finding ways to improve our storm planning and management in the future.”
In response to reports that many stores in the greater Providence area have sold out of road salt, Councilman Oscar Vargas (Ward 15), who chairs the Committee on Public Works, presented a resolution requesting DPW distribute at least one ton of the city’s salt supply to residents to help clear sidewalks and driveways. The resolution was passed on the floor.
“Unfortunately, over the last week DPW’s plows have pushed snow into constituents’ sidewalks and driveways, causing accessibility issues,” said Councilman Vargas. “We’ve been experiencing extreme cold temperatures, and not all of the snow and ice has melted. With the lack of road salt available for purchase, we’re proposing that DPW provide some of their salt to Providence residents to melt the ice so pedestrians, strollers, and wheelchairs can once again get around safely.”
Councilors also introduced a resolution promoting sustainable and equitable funding for stormwater and sewer management. Providence has experienced 13 significant flooding events in the past three years that have endangered residents and damaged homes and businesses. In response, a Sustainable Stormwater and Sewer Assessment Study Task Force recommended establishing dedicated user fees for stormwater and sewer management. The resolution, which was introduced by Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) and Task Force member Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3), supports working in collaboration with the Administration to advance the task force’s recommendations, engage community members, and develop an implementation framework. It was referred to the Special Committee on Environment and Resiliency.
In a continued effort to advocate for safe, affordable housing, councilors heard two resolutions supporting state legislation that addresses housing issues. Councilors unanimously passed a resolution, introduced by Council President Miller, which supports $25 million general obligation housing bonds in the General Assembly. A second resolution introduced by Councilwoman Peterson supports H-7199 and S-2291, which amend the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to allow victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse to terminate a lease early without penalty or liability. This resolution was referred to the Special Committee on State Legislative Affairs.
Councilors also unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which took place on January 27, 2026. January 27th is the anniversary of the day the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
Councilors approved Mayor Brett Smiley’s appointment of Andrew Bramson, President and CEO of Onward We Learn, to the Providence School Board for Region 1. Bramson is currently serving as the Board Chair of the Central Falls School District.
The next city council meeting will take place on February 19th, 2026.
by Council Staff | Dec 17, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, Jo-Ann Ryan, John Goncalves, Press Release, Rachel Miller
Tonight, Providence City Council members convened for the swearing-in of Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) as part of a special council meeting. Councilors also took the opportunity to hold the victims of the Brown University shooting this past weekend in their prayers.
Councilors honored the memories of Brown students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, and acknowledged the others injured in the shooting, the first responders working tirelessly since Saturday, and everyone impacted by the past weekend’s tragedy.
“We come together tonight with heavy hearts… We ask for healing for those who were injured and peace for all who were shaken,” said Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1). “Providence has faced hardship before, and each time we’ve shown who we are. We are resilient. We look out for each other. We don’t turn away from pain, and we don’t allow fear to define us.”
“We have a profound obligation to our constituents to pursue the truth,” added Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13), encouraging her fellow councilors to help stop the spread of misinformation in support of the ongoing investigation. “Our office is here to serve you, to provide any information your constituents might need.”
Councilor Davidson won the Ward 2 special election on December 3rd. The election followed the September resignation of her predecessor, Councilwoman Helen Anthony. Ward 2 includes the College Hill, Wayland, and Blackstone neighborhoods, including much of Brown University’s campus. Councilor Davidson and her husband Kevin have lived in the Blackstone neighborhood in Providence for more than 20 years and are the proud parents of three adult sons.
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult week for Ward 2,” said Councilor Davidson. “I feel immensely grateful that I can be there for my neighbors at this time and look forward to continuing to serve my community in the new year.”
Councilor Davidson currently serves as Director of Development and Communications at the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and serves on the boards of the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Rhode Island Chapter. She has held long-term leadership positions with multiple parent-teacher organizations in Providence, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School PTO, Nathan Bishop Middle School PTO, and the Classical High School Community Association.
Councilor Davidson received her A.B. from Brown University and her M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Visit Davidson’s profile for more information.
Councilors also granted second and final passage to an ordinance supporting the Mile of History project, which authorizes financing for major infrastructure upgrades to Benefit Street, known as one of Providence’s most historic corridors. Benefit Street and its accompanying attractions see 300,000 tourists each year. Nearly 40% of the stretch of sidewalk has been determined to be difficult to traverse, while over 300 feet is considered impassable. The project will repair cracked sidewalks, replace missing bricks, restore tree wells, and ensure ADA accessibility.
“I am deeply grateful to all of the partners who made this possible, including Council President Miller, Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Mayor Smiley and the administration, the Mile of History, and all of my colleagues who believed in the merits of this project,” said Councilman Goncalves. “This bond is not just for the East Side. It represents an economic investment in one of the most historically significant streets in our country, which truly benefits every neighborhood, every resident and every visitor to our great city. I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocating tooth-and-nail to ensure this is one of many meaningful infrastructure and sidewalk improvements in neighborhoods across Providence.”
The meeting also included appointments, reappointments, and elections to the Juvenile Hearing Board, Providence External Review Authority, Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council, Probate Court, and the Sustainability Commission.
The meeting adjourned with a moment of silence for Umurzokov and Cook.
The first regularly scheduled council meeting of 2026 will take place on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
by Council Staff | Dec 16, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, Press Release
Providence, RI – On Wednesday, December 17 at 5 p.m., Providence City Council will convene for a special meeting in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall. It will begin with the swearing-in ceremony of Councilor-elect Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2). Press and the public are invited to attend.
During the special meeting, councilors will also vote on second passage of the Mile of History project, which provides for infrastructure improvements along and adjacent to historic Benefit Street and consider end-of-year appointments to city boards and commissions.
by Council Staff | Dec 4, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, Jo-Ann Ryan, Press Release
At tonight’s City Council meeting, councilors unanimously voted to approve the City’s lease of the WaterFire Arts Center back to WaterFire Providence, and advanced an ordinance supporting the Mile of History project.
“This vote is about protecting the heartbeat of Providence, a cultural event that has become synonymous with the city itself,” Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) shared in a release after the November 5th Finance Committee meeting. “WaterFire is more than a world-renowned art installation, it’s an engine of economic activity, drawing in about $162 million of economic stimulus to Rhode Island annually. This agreement is a smart, forward-looking decision that will pay dividends for Providence residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come.”
Chairwoman Ryan also authored an op-ed published in The Providence Journal detailing the community and financial benefits of investing in WaterFire. Their programming not only brings roughly a million visitors to the city annually, it also supports local artists by offering workforce support and vending opportunities.
Councilors granted first passage to an ordinance supporting the Mile of History project, which authorizes financing for major infrastructure upgrades to Benefit Street, known as one of Providence’s most historic corridors. Benefit Street and its accompanying attractions see 300,000 tourists each year. Nearly 40% of the stretch of sidewalk has been determined to be difficult to traverse, while over 300 feet is considered impassable. The project, if passed for a second time, will repair cracked sidewalks, replace missing bricks, restore tree wells, and ensure ADA accessibility.
Following the final vote tally in the general election for the Ward 2 Council seat, the Council has tentatively scheduled a swearing-in ceremony for Jill Davidson on Wednesday, December 17th, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall.
Due to the New Year’s holiday, the next regularly scheduled council meeting will take place on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
