by Council Staff | Jul 16, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, Jill Davidson, Juan M. Pichardo, Juan Pichardo, Press Release, Rachel Miller
Providence, RI – At tonight’s City Council meeting, councilors passed several major ordinances before recessing for the summer. The next regular City Council meeting will convene on September 17, 2026.
The first ordinance, the Providence 8 Law Qualifications, governs how Providence grants the 8% tax treatment within the city. The 8 Law ordinance will stop the misuse of the low-income tax treatment by wealthy developers who do not substantively build the affordable housing that the state’s 8 Law was meant for. The state’s 8 Law designates the tax treatment for low-income housing, but does not give a definition of low-income, nor specify affordability levels, nor address whether it should be applied to the units themselves or the entirety of the building. This ambiguity creates space for municipalities to administer the program as they deem appropriate and beneficial.
In April 2024, the City Council passed by a 13-2 vote an 8 Law ordinance that would have applied the low-income tax treatment only to the restricted units themselves. The ordinance was then vetoed by Mayor Brett Smiley. Rather than just applying to individual units, the new version passed for the second and final time tonight sets affordability thresholds that work with other low-income housing programs. After taking into consideration feedback from affordable housing developers, the sponsors created an ordinance that will fulfill the intended purpose of the state 8 Law while aligning eligibility with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and other affordability programs, together ensuring that the tax treatment is only used for properties with meaningful low-income housing.
“After years of work, tonight we put into law that a tax treatment intended for low-income housing must actually be used for low-income housing,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “Wealthy developers have been taking advantage of the City’s most generous tax treatment without providing units affordable to low-income residents. Take 68 Dorrance, for example: a 44-unit market-rate building where only 9 units are income-restricted, and none are restricted for low-income households. Tonight, the Council said clearly: that is not what 8 Law is for. This ordinance protects affordable housing and city revenue by making sure luxury developers pay their fair share.”
Passage of this ordinance is considered to be a major legislative success for the majority of the City Council that has worked on 8 Law reform for the entirety of this term. Besides legislating to end the abuse of the low-income tax treatment, the City Council has pursued a judicial route to properly applying 8 Law. The Council currently has a case before the Rhode Island Supreme Court regarding Buff Chase’s firm Cornish Associates, who have a deal to receive the low-income tax treatment on10 buildings, including commercial portions, without meaningful affordability restrictions.
Councilors also passed for a second and final time an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, introduced by Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2), will establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the new system, routine purchases, which constitute the majority of procurement activity, would be handled by the schools themselves, and only multi-year, sole-source, or $500K+ contracts would be subject to City review.
“Sometimes multiple levels of review are essential to ensure good governance and financial oversight, but for most routine purchases it just isn’t a good use of taxpayer dollars or city time to have so many levels of red tape,” said Councilor Davidson. “The City is committed to setting our schools up for success this fall, and making sure they get the supplies they need in a timely fashion is a great start.”
The ordinance came via agreement between Councilor Davidson, Mayor Smiley, and School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens, announced in June.
Councilors also passed for the second and final time the BUILD Act, which will eliminate taxation during the construction period of qualifying affordable housing development, in a move that sponsors say will reduce a barrier to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Providence.
Currently, 8 Law only goes into effect upon the occupancy of rental units since the tax treatment is determined by rental income. In between the start of construction and occupancy, properties are taxed at the regular rate.
The BUILD Act will change that by providing a two-year tax stabilization period for eligible affordable development projects before tenants move in and are taxed at 8% of scheduled rental income. By removing the tax burden from the start, the BUILD Act will clear a difficult barrier to the construction of more affordable housing, especially the deeply affordable housing needed by the lowest income households.
Finally, councilors granted second and final passage to an ordinance on deed protections. The ordinance creates a de facto fraud alert system that will notify enrolled property owners whenever a document affecting their deed or title is submitted for recording.
“Protecting Providence homeowners from the devastating impact of home deed fraud has been a personal mission of mine since my time in the State Senate,” said City Council President Pro Tempore and lead ordinance sponsor Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9). “This ordinance establishes a crucial line of defense, ensuring homeowners are no longer left in the dark about unauthorized changes to their property records that could impact their most important lifetime asset. We are delivering peace of mind and proactive security directly to our neighborhoods.”
In June 2026, Governor Dan McKee signed House Bill 7551aa and Senate Bill 2715A into law, establishing real estate title fraud as a criminal offence and allowing municipalities to refuse to record suspicious documents from unauthorized submitters. Providence’s ordinance will become effective a year ahead of the state law.
The ordinances will now be transmitted to Mayor Smiley for his signature.
by Council Staff | Jul 2, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, Jill Davidson, Miguel Sanchez, Press Release, Shelley Peterson
Providence, RI – At tonight’s city council meeting, councilors unanimously passed juvenile hearing board reforms that will fundamentally transform how the justice system treats young people by creating a clearer, fairer path to diversion for Providence youth.
The Juvenile Hearing Board (JHB), Providence’s community-based alternative to Family Court for eligible young people, connects youth with accountability, support services, and non-carceral responses to non-violent crimes. Instead of pushing children unnecessarily into the traditional court system, the JHB provides real opportunities to make amends, learn from mistakes, and move forward.
“Tonight’s vote answered a fundamental question for city government: what do we owe our children?” said Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). “We owe them fairness, opportunity, consistency, forgiveness, and help. Every young person deserves a real chance to get on the right path—not to be pushed unnecessarily into the endless cycle known as the school-to-prison pipeline. The Juvenile Hearing Board can change a kid’s life, and under this ordinance, so many more Providence youth will have access to that chance, regardless of timing, luck, or which officer happens to be on duty.”
Under the current system, when an eligible young person is arrested, referral to the Juvenile Hearing Board is entirely at the discretion of the detective on duty. Over the course of three years, officers only referred 108 of the 508 young people eligible for the JHB to the Board. Additionally, not a single referral occurred during the evening shift, suggesting a child’s access to diversion was based not on the nature of their actions, but on circumstantial factors outside the child’s control. The new reforms will ensure fuller and more appropriate use of the JHB by making referrals automatic for eligible youth arrested for most first or second nonviolent offenses.
“Investment in schools, renovation of our parks, and reform of the Juvenile Hearing Board are all a part of the same system that wants to give our kids happy, healthy, safe childhoods while also setting them up for successful adulthoods,” said Luisa Sarante, the Juvenile Hearing Board Coordinator. “The JHB is there to make sure that setbacks don’t result in ruined childhoods or adulthoods that fail before they’ve even begun. These reforms mean more second chances, more opportunities to grow and learn from mistakes, and a more compassionate and socially responsible Providence.”
The ordinance will now be transmitted to Mayor Brett Smiley for his signature and will go into effect in 90 days.
Councilors also considered for the first time both an ordinance that would reduce exploitation of 8 Law in Providence and an ordinance that would remove a cost barrier to affordable housing development and construction in Providence.
The first ordinance, the Providence 8 Law Qualifications, establishes local rules for how Providence grants the 8% tax treatment within the city. According to sponsors, the 8 Law ordinance would end misuse of a low-income tax treatment by wealthy developers, who often use it for market rate or luxury properties.
In April 2024, the City Council passed by a 13-2 vote an 8 Law ordinance that would have applied the low-income tax treatment only to the restricted units themselves. The ordinance was then vetoed by Mayor Brett Smiley. Rather than just applying to individual units, the new version considered tonight sets affordability thresholds that work with other low-income housing programs. Working closely with affordable housing developers, the sponsors put forth an ordinance that aligns eligibility with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and other affordability programs, while ensuring that tax treatment is only used for properties with meaningful low-income housing.
Councilors also considered the BUILD Act, which would eliminate taxation during the construction period of affordable housing development, in a move that sponsors say will reduce a barrier to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Providence.
Currently, 8 Law only goes into effect upon the occupancy of rental units since the tax treatment is determined by rental income. In between the start of construction and occupancy, properties are taxed at the regular rate.
The BUILD Act will change that by providing a two-year tax stabilization period for eligible affordable development projects before tenants move in and are taxed at 8% of scheduled rental income. By removing the tax burden from the start, the BUILD Act would clear a difficult barrier to the construction of more affordable housing, especially the deeply affordable housing needed by the lowest income households.
Both the 8 Law ordinance and the BUILD Act require a second passage before becoming law.
Last week, the Working Group on Providence City Council’s Role in PPSD Governance concluded its work with an agreement among city leaders to advance an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, which Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) introduced at tonight’s meeting, would establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the new system, routine purchases, which constitute the vast majority of procurement activity, would be handled by the schools themselves, and only multi-year, sole-source, or $500K+ contracts would be subject to City review.
Councilors voted in favor of the ordinance for the first time this evening. Per Sec. 1007 (c) of the Providence Home Rule Charter, this ordinance requires a two-thirds vote to become law. A public hearing will be held on the proposal on July 13th at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber before it returns to the full City Council for a final vote.
Finally, councilors passed a resolution to change the name of the street that is home to Rhode Island’s School for the Deaf from Corliss Park to Jeanie Lippitt Circle. The request for the name change, which honors Lippitt’s role in inspiring advocacy for Deaf and hard-of-hearing education, came from students at the school, whose thorough research and presentation to Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) and other local leaders led to the name change.
“I’m so proud of these students,” said Councilwoman Peterson. “They recognized a problem – that their school’s address was too often confused with nearby Corliss Park – and came up with a solution that was both practical and meaningful.”
The next regular City Council meeting will convene on July 16, 2026.
by Council Staff | Jun 24, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, Press Release
Proposed ordinance would help schools get what they need faster while preserving oversight for major contracts
Providence, RI – The Working Group on Providence City Council’s Role in PPSD Governance has concluded its work with an agreement among Working Group Chair Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2), Mayor Brett P. Smiley, and Providence School Board President Ty’Relle Stephens to advance an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, which Councilor Davidson intends to introduce at the July 2nd City Council meeting, would establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. It directly addresses a problem identified in the 2019 Johns Hopkins review: a duplicative procurement process that often slowed the district’s ability to secure the materials, services, and supports students and educators need.
Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the agreement, routine school purchases would move through a faster school-side approval process, while BOCS review would remain required for multi-year contracts, sole-source contracts, and contracts of $500,000 or more. The new framework is designed to help schools obtain what they need more efficiently while preserving City oversight for contracts with significant fiscal exposure.
“Returning Providence schools to local control can’t mean returning to the same systems that weren’t working,” said Councilor Davidson. “This agreement gives us a clear path forward: routine school purchases can move faster, major contracts will still receive appropriate City oversight, and competitive bidding requirements remain fully intact. I am grateful to the School Board, Mayor’s Office, PPSD, RIDE, and every member of the working group for helping us land on a practical solution that protects students, schools, and taxpayers as we build on our strengths to ensure that the Providence Public Schools serve each and every student as effectively as possible.”
“Since taking office, my administration has been working to ensure that procurement is easier and more efficient in preparation for return to local management of the Providence School District,” said Mayor Smiley. “The framework we have developed alongside our partners at the School Board and City Council makes this process more seamless and ensures our students, educators, and faculty will more easily and more quickly have access to the tools and resources they need.”
“Local control has to come with systems that work for our schools and, most importantly, for our students,” said President Stephens. “This agreement recognizes PPSD’s responsibility to govern its own procurement while maintaining appropriate oversight and accountability. This is a practical agreement that reflects local leaders coming together, putting students first, and doing what is right. Most importantly, it will help ensure that our students and educators get what they need to succeed without unnecessary delays.”
The working group was established to examine the City Council’s responsibilities as PPSD returns from state control to local governance. Members quickly identified procurement as the central issue requiring immediate reform, with procurement delays and duplicative review processes identified prior to state intervention as barriers to effective district operations.
Under the proposed framework, the City would separate two questions that are currently treated as one: whether a procurement must go through a competitive bidding process, and whether that procurement requires review by BOCS.
Competitive procurement requirements would remain unchanged. Purchases above the applicable threshold would still be required to follow state and local procurement laws. The ordinance would instead change the review and approval pathway for school procurements, allowing routine purchases to proceed through a faster school-side process while reserving BOCS review for contracts with greater financial significance.
Fiscal Year 2025 procurement data reviewed by the working group demonstrated the impact of this approach. PPSD executed 459 procurements valued at more than $10,000, including 220 in July alone, as schools prepared for the start of the academic year. Under the new proposed framework, only 19 contracts would have been referred to BOCS.
The working group’s final report recommends adoption of the ordinance as a practical and durable step toward a smoother return to local control. The framework preserves transparency, competitive procurement, and fiscal safeguards while reducing duplicative review for routine school purchases.
The proposed ordinance is expected to be introduced at the July 2nd meeting of the Providence City Council. Per the Providence Home Rule Charter, the ordinance will require a public hearing and a two-thirds vote of the City Council and would apply to school department contracts only.
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.
