by Council Staff | May 22, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, Justin Roias, Press Release
Providence, RI —Tenant unions are organizations of tenants that come together to advocate for themselves and their neighbors. Our neighbors at the Etta Apartments in the North End have come together to establish the Etta Apartments Tenant Union (EATU). These tenants have united to fight for better living conditions.
Etta Apartment residents are under the Section 8 program, meaning that their living situations are subsidized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This apartment complex in particular works with elderly residents of our community. In order to form the union, over 70% of them signed cards saying that they want to organize as a group and then negotiate with the landlord for improvements!
EATU has been dealing with all sorts of issues for years, including, but not limited to:
- Lack of maintenance and update standards
- Unjust towing of tenants’ vehicles
- Over the top fees for AC usage
- Absentee management
- No accountability for the owner or property manager
- Disrespect
As a long-time Providence resident and city councilor, I fully support the tenants in their fight for fair treatment. Why is it that elderly folks living in subsidized housing should ever have to deal with questions of heat, cost, respect, or dignity? Unfortunately, groups like Providence Realty Investment (the owners of the building) and Wingate (the property management company) reap in millions of dollars in tax incentives and federal dollars only to ignore our most vulnerable communities. While Providence Realty Investment boasts a portfolio of 19 different subsidized housing complexes in RI and MA, and while the company’s owners live in multi-million dollar mansions, they leave our elders in a precarious position.
Providence Realty Investment now has the opportunity to do the right thing: sit down with the tenants and negotiate a fair lease. Don’t retaliate against these tenants for using their federal right to organize (remember, retaliation is against the law). Respect their wishes. Treat your tenants the way you should have from the start. If you do, there’s an incredible opportunity ahead to build a future for these tenants, a future where they are fully respected and where their needs are listened to and met.
I have the back of every single tenant organizing in this building, and I won’t let greedy landlords come in and take public dollars to violate your federal right to organize. It’s time for every tenant in this city to have a voice by organizing into a tenant union, and I can’t wait to see what EATU is able to achieve as it grows and negotiates with the landlord.
by Council Staff | May 21, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, John Goncalves, Justin Roias, Mary Kay Harris, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Sue AnderBois
The ordinance strengthening PERA requires one more vote to become law
Providence, RI – Tonight, councilors voted for the first time to strengthen civilian oversight of the Providence Police Department (PPD) by expanding the Providence External Review Authority’s (PERA’s) oversight powers. Currently, PERA relies heavily on PPD for access to information, which limits its ability to operate independently.
Sponsors of the bill say that the proposed amendments would give PERA the tools, access, and authority to conduct real, independent oversight with direct access to internal police systems and records, the ability to audit Internal Affairs investigations, and the creation of an Early Warning System to flag officers who may need counseling or retraining. These reforms would give Providence residents a clearer path to review from outside the police department, strengthening accountability and increasing public safety.
“For years, PERA has been tasked with investigating police misconduct without the tools, access, and authority to do that work independently,” said Council President Rachel Miller. “Today’s vote is a major step toward real civilian oversight—giving PERA meaningful access to the systems and information it needs to conduct independent investigations and strengthen public trust. This legislation builds on decades of organization by community members who have demanded a system of accountability that does not depend on the institution it is meant to oversee. Real public safety means safe neighborhoods, yes—but it also means confidence that when harm occurs, there is a path to justice.”
Additionally, councilors finalized passage of the $3 million Green Revolving Fund and $5.45 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget, significant investments in the overall health and well-being of Providence residents and the city itself.
CDBG funds reach every corner of the city. Distributed as grants to the city’s community centers and public service organizations, utilized for neighborhood park and facility improvements, and invested in homelessness prevention and affordable housing projects, CDBG funding decisions reflect the needs of the city as well as ward priorities.
“This has been the most efficient and collaborative URRP process of my term,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), who serves as chair of the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, & Planning (URRP). “I’m so proud of how many programs and projects we have been able to meaningfully support in this new funding cycle.”
Some important allocations of funding to highlight include:
- $20,000 for the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church’s food services program.
- $40,000 for the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber (which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary!) of Commerce for economic development support.
- $657,360 housing grant for Amos House to rehabilitate homes at 428, 430, and 434 Pine Street.
- An additional $70,000 for Amos House’s A Hand Up program, which offers work opportunities to more than 500 people who are actively participating in, and at risk for, panhandling.
- $85,000 for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council’s “Merino Park and Greenway Accessibility Project.”
- An additional $75,000 in Ward 6 and Ward 7 neighborhood investment funding to support Merino Park pedestrian access improvements.
Mayor Brett Smiley and the City Council will issue a more detailed joint press release on CDBG projects and the benefits of the ordinance.
While the CDBG budget focuses on building healthy and well-supported communities, the Green Revolving Fund looks to the emissions footprint of city buildings. The GRF will serve as a much-needed mechanism for the city to reach its goal for municipal buildings to be carbon neutral by 2040. Projects will include such improvements and upgrades as installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; installation of solar panels and other renewable energy systems; and weatherization and other updates to tighten building envelopes. The savings from the reduction in energy costs, alongside incentives and rebates, will be reinvested into the Fund.
“The work that we are doing to decarbonize, to invest in energy efficiency, it is working, not just to help the environment, but to save our residents and our taxpayers real money,” said Green Revolving Fund sponsor Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3) during the May 7th city council meeting. “Providence [is] leading the way and showing that we’re seeing savings. And even if the federal and state governments try to disinvest in this, we’re going to use our savings to create our own incentives to keep going.”
“If decarbonization doesn’t move you, then let cost savings move you,” added Councilor Justin Roias (Ward 4).
Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) introduced an ordinance that would prohibit rent increases above 10% during states of emergency, and for 30 days afterward, declared by the President or Governor and the Mayor. The ordinance would create a 3-1-1 complaint category for tenants to report rent increases of 15% or more and require housing inspections when tenants report rent increases of 25% or more, with credible supporting documentation. The ordinance was referred to the Special Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education for further review.
Just in time for summer, councilors completed first passage of the updated entertainment ordinance. The updated ordinance creates the definition of expanded incidental entertainment, clarifies what qualifies as entertainment under this new definition, changes licensing requirements, and sets clearer hours for general indoor and outdoor music, while reinforcing noise regulations in consideration of nearby residents. According to sponsors, the updated ordinance is necessary to support and create consistency for the local artists and venues that make Providence the Creative Capital.
The next regular City Council meeting will convene on June 4, 2026.
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 | Jun 12, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Juan M. Pichardo, Justin Roias, Miguel Sanchez, Rachel Miller
Today, Providence City Council President Rachel Miller announced that the city council will be honoring an “informational boycott” of WLNE-TV television news station, the ABC affiliate for the Providence market, in response to a request from workers at the station who have been engaged for over a year in contract negotiations with parent company Standard Media.
The newsroom union representing workers at the station, NABET-CWA, issued a request on the morning of June 11th for elected officials to cease all non-essential correspondence and engagement with the network, following management’s recent abandonment of good-faith negotiations with the union. Organizers at the station, operating as NABET-ABC6, are seeking standard job benefits and a livable wage.
“The need for high-quality local journalism is fundamental to any functioning democracy. This need is more acute now than ever, at a time when both our democracy and our information environment are facing existential threats from the federal government,” said Council President Miller. “So it is particularly disappointing and disturbing that Standard Media has chosen not to pay its workers a fair wage. Providence City Council will not work with any business that treats workers in this way. We urge station management to return to the negotiating table immediately.”
With the exception of urgent situations affecting the safety of Providence residents, this release will be the final communication the Providence City Council office sends to ABC6 until workers and station management reach a fair contract.
Under the leadership of Council President Miller, Providence City Council has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the essential right of Providence workers to collectively bargain. In March of last year, Providence City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of unionization efforts at ABC6. In October, President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9), Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6), and Chief of Staff June Rose spoke at a rally outside of the ABC6 headquarters.
More recently, councilors passed resolutions supporting unionizing educators at Highlander and Cuffee charter schools as well as striking healthcare workers at Butler Hospital, just a few of the 13 such resolutions passed by city council this term. Last month, Council President Miller, Councilor Justin Roias (Ward 4), and Councilor Miguel Sanchez joined Butler workers with SEIU 1199 NE on the picket line.
Providence City Council will continue to advocate and show up for organized labor in our city and defend the right of workers everywhere to demand fair wages, safe working conditions, and the dignity they deserve.
by Council Staff | Jun 5, 2025 | Add Council Logo, John Goncalves, Juan M. Pichardo, Justin Roias, Mary Kay Harris, Miguel Sanchez, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson
Tonight, Providence City Council President Rachel Miller introduced an amendment to the city’s noise ordinance which would exempt striking workers from violations. This protection follows the recent unnecessary and targeted fining of workers at Butler Hospital, who for more than two weeks have been exercising their right to peacefully demonstrate for a livable wage and safe working conditions.
“The noise ordinance was never intended to silence people exercising their right to fight for their families,” said Council President Miller. “The workers at Butler Hospital are striking for fair wages and safe working conditions—and doing so peacefully. I’ve joined them on the picket line, bullhorn in hand, and seen firsthand their commitment to their patients and our community. Yet they’ve been hit with $500 fines simply for making their voices heard. Butler’s workers are eager to return to the jobs they love—as soon as they win a fair contract that ends poverty-level wages and unsafe conditions. We won’t punish them in the meantime. This amendment makes it clear: Providence will not use selective enforcement of the noise ordinance to silence workers standing up for their rights.”
The measure was referred to the Committee on Ordinances. Council also passed a resolution of support for these striking workers, once again sending a clear message of councilors’ unwavering commitment to Providence workers and their right to collective bargain.
Councilors also granted final passage to an ordinance adopting the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget for Program Year 2025-26, and authorizing the city to submit its annual CDBG, HOME Investment Partnership, Emergency Solution Grant, and Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS grant applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The total CDBG allocation is $5,340,000 for more than a dozen local organizations serving the Providence community.
“The Community Development Block Grant program is an invaluable lifeline to the frontline organizations serving communities across our city,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), who, as Chairwoman of the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning, has oversight of the CDBG award process. “From elder care and literacy programs to food for neighbors in need, the services provided by this year’s awardees enrich, shape, and even save lives. Just last week, we attended the opening of a new 35-unit Health and Housing development by Crossroads Rhode Island, an organization supported in part by CDBG. Every dollar spent through this program makes our communities stronger.”
Tonight’s meeting featured introduction of two ordinances providing tenant organizations and local business employees “rights of first refusal” for the purchase of apartment buildings and businesses, respectively, listed for sale in Providence. The first such ordinance, introduced by Councilor Justin Roias (Ward 4), would give tenant organizations at subject properties the first chance to buy their properties from building owners when the owners decide to sell, with qualified nonprofits given the second opportunity to purchase before those properties can be sold to other parties. A second ordinance, introduced by Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6), would grant the same right to employees of small businesses in the city. Both ordinances were referred to the Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education.
Also tonight, councilors passed several resolutions in support of legislation currently pending before the Rhode Island General Assembly, including House Bill H6334, introduced by Representative Rebecca Kislak at the request of the city council, which would authorize municipalities to impose a surcharge of $2 on ticket sales for venues with a capacity of more than 800 people. This small surcharge would represent a major new source of revenue for the City of Providence during a time of acute financial challenge and is just one of several new revenue streams proposed by councilors to be enacted alongside a fair and balanced city budget.
Councilors also introduced three ordinances relating to college student housing in the city. The first, introduced by Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) and Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) would create a student impact fee for buildings that rent entirely to students. The second, introduced by Councilwoman Peterson, would create a licensure process for student housing providers. The third, also introduced by Councilwoman Peterson, would codify the Nuisance Task Force under the purview of the City Solicitor. All three ordinances were referred to committee.
Additional meeting highlights:
- Passage of a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) establishing an honorary street designation in tribute to Mattie L. Smith.
- Passage of a resolution introduced by President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9) and advanced with unanimous support from the Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education opposing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.
- Passage of a resolution introduced by President Pro Tempore Pichardo supporting a state legislative measure to grant limited state recognition to the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe.
Los Concejales Presentan Exención de la Ordenanza de Ruido para Trabajadores en Huelga, Derecho Preferente para Organizaciones de Inquilinos y Trabajadores
Esta noche, la presidenta del Concejo Municipal de Providence Rachel Miller presentó una enmienda a la ordenanza municipal sobre ruido que eximiría a los trabajadores en huelga de infracciones. Esta protección surge tras las recientes multas innecesarias y selectivas a los trabajadores del Hospital Butler, quienes durante más de dos semanas han ejercido su derecho a manifestarse pacíficamente para exigir un salario digno y condiciones laborales seguras.
“La ordenanza sobre el ruido nunca tuvo la intención de silenciar a las personas que ejercen su derecho a luchar por sus familias”, dijo la presidenta del Concejo Miller. “Los trabajadores del Hospital Butler están en huelga por salarios justos y condiciones laborales seguras—y lo hacen de forma pacífica. Me he unido a ellos en el piquete, con megáfono en mano, y he visto de primera mano su compromiso con sus pacientes y nuestra comunidad. Sin embargo, han recibido multas de $500 simplemente por alzar su voz. Los trabajadores de Butler están ansiosos por regresar a los trabajos que aman—tan pronto como obtengan un contrato justo que acabe con los salarios que los mantienen en la pobreza y las condiciones peligrosas. Mientras tanto, no los castigaremos. Esta enmienda lo deja claro: Providence no utilizará la aplicación selectiva de la ordenanza sobre el ruido para silenciar a los trabajadores que defienden sus derechos.”
La medida fue remitida al Comité de Ordenanzas. El Concejo también aprobó una resolución de apoyo a estos trabajadores en huelga, reforzando una vez mas el firme compromiso de los concejales con los trabajadores de Providence y su derecho a la negociación colectiva.
Esta noche, los concejales también aprobaron una ordenanza que adopta el Presupuesto de Subvenciones en Bloque para el Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG, por sus siglas en ingles) de la ciudad para el Año Programático 2025-26 y autoriza a la ciudad a presentar sus solicitudes anuales de subvenciones CDBG, HOME Investment Partnership, Subvenciones para Soluciones de Emergencia y Oportunidades de Vivienda para Personas con SIDA al Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos. La asignación total de CDBG es de $5,340,000 para más de una docena de organizaciones locales que prestan servicios a la comunidad de Providence.
“El programa de Subvenciones en Bloque para el Desarrollo Comunitario es un recurso vital invaluable para las organizaciones de primera línea que sirven a las comunidades de nuestra ciudad,” declaró la concejala Mary Kay Harris (Distrito 11), quien, como presidenta del Comité de Reurbanización, Renovación y Planificación Urbana, supervisa el proceso de asignación de CDBG. “Desde programas de cuidado de personas mayores y alfabetización hasta alimentos para vecinos necesitados, los servicios provistos por los beneficiarios de este año enriquecen, moldean e incluso salvan vidas. La semana pasada, asistimos a la inauguración de un nuevo complejo de Salud y Vivienda de 35 unidades de Crossroads Rhode Island, una organización apoyada en parte por CDBG. Cada dólar invertido a través de este programa fortalece nuestras comunidades.”
En la reunión de esta noche se presentaron dos ordenanzas que otorgan a las organizaciones de inquilinos y a los empleados de negocios locales “derecho preferente” para la compra de edificios de apartamentos y negocios, respectivamente, en venta en Providence. La primera ordenanza, presentada por el concejal Justin Roias (Distrito 4), otorgaría a las organizaciones de inquilinos de las propiedades en cuestión la primera oportunidad de comprar sus viviendas de los propietarios de los edificios cuando decidan venderlas, y a las organizaciones sin fines de lucro que cumplan los requisitos la segunda oportunidad de compra antes de que esas propiedades puedan venderse a cualquier otra persona o entidad. Una segunda ordenanza, presentada por el concejal Miguel Sanchez (Distrito 6), otorgaría el mismo derecho a los empleados de pequeños negocios en la ciudad. Ambas ordenanzas fueron remitidas al Comité de Salud, Oportunidad, Prosperidad y Educación.
También esta noche, los concejales aprobaron resoluciones en apoyo a la legislación actualmente pendiente ante la Asamblea General de Rhode Island, incluyendo el Proyecto de Ley de la Cámara de Representantes H6334, presentado por la Representante Rebecca Kislak a petición del Concejo. Este proyecto autorizaría a los municipios a imponer un recargo de $2 en la venta de entradas para locales con capacidad de más de 800 personas. Este pequeño recargo representaría una importante fuente de ingresos para la Ciudad de Providence en un momento de graves dificultades financieras y es solo una de las nuevas fuentes de ingresos propuestas por los concejales para su implementación junto con un presupuesto municipal justo y equilibrado.
Los concejales también presentaron tres ordenanzas relacionadas con la vivienda para estudiantes universitarios en la ciudad. La primera, presentada por la concejala Shelley Peterson (Distrito 14) y el concejal John Goncalves (Distrito 1), crearía una tarifa de impacto estudiantil para los edificios que se alquilan exclusivamente a estudiantes. La segunda, presentada por la concejala Peterson, crearía un proceso de licencia para los proveedores de vivienda estudiantil. La tercera, también presentada por la concejala Peterson, codificaría el “Grupo de Trabajo contra Molestias,” bajo la supervisión del Abogado de la Ciudad. Las tres ordenanzas fueron remitidas a comité.
Puntos destacados adicionales de la reunión:
- Aprobación de una resolución presentada por la concejala Mary Kay Harris (Distrito 11) que establece la designación honoraria de una calle en homenaje a Mattie L. Smith.
- Aprobación de una resolución presentada por el presidente pro tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Distrito 9), aprobada con el apoyo unánime del Comité de Salud, Oportunidad, Prosperidad y Educación, que se opone al desmantelamiento del Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos.
- Aprobación de una resolución presentada por el presidente pro tempore Pichardo que apoya una medida legislativa estatal para otorgar reconocimiento estatal limitado a la Tribu Seaconke Wampanoag.
by Council Staff | May 2, 2025 | Blog, Justin Roias, Rachel Miller
As city leaders, Providence City Councilors make decisions every week that affect the lives and livelihoods of Providence residents. But standing up for our city’s values goes beyond the routine work of legislating. In a diverse, working city like Providence, councilors’ role as advocates is about more than any one ordinance or resolution – it’s about showing up.
In April, Councilor Justin Roias stood before the Paul Cuffee Board of Trustees to speak in support of educators at Cuffee Upper and Lower Schools who are currently in the process of unionizing. In October and December of 2024, these workers voted overwhelmingly to join the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals. Since then, they have been met with misdirection, legal maneuvering, and disrespect.
City Councilors have long supported the right of Providence workers to unionize, which is why Council recently voted unanimous passage of two resolutions in support of such efforts at Cuffee and Highlander Charter schools – the latest of thirteen total union support resolutions passed this term. To underscore this overwhelmingly support, Councilor Roias hand-delivered the Cuffee resolution to the board on April 24th and spoke in support of the right of all workers to collectively bargain for fair pay and better treatment.
“I’m not here to tell you what to do,” said Roias, appearing before the Cuffee Board. “Only you can make that decision. I’m not here to shame or preach. I’m here to proudly say, on behalf of the City of Providence, that workers have the right to organize in this city. In this city, we stand with educators who want fair wages and conditions, not only for themselves but so that they can, with confidence and dignity, carry out the noble and often thankless task of preparing our next generation to thrive and to lead.”
Under the leadership of Council President Rachel Miller, Providence City Council has been a champion for labor and those seeking to make their voices heard — marching and picketing with labor allies and showing up for working people who want and need the strength of a union to help secure better conditions. From teachers and educators to staff at a local news station, postdoctoral workers at Brown University, and Starbucks employees, this council has demonstrated time and again its committed to supporting and uplifting efforts to organize and unionize.
It should come as no surprise that Council President Miller has led this support. More than twenty years ago, it was her advocacy for workers’ rights that first brought her to Providence. As a former union organizer herself, Miller knows firsthand the challenges, pressures, and threats faced by workers who dare to make themselves heard. This week – as we celebrated International Workers Day – and every week, the City of Providence celebrates that daring and stands with all those seeking to organize for a better workplace and world.
For the educators at Paul Cuffee and Highlander schools, and all those demanding the respect they deserve, Providence City Council will keep showing up to defend this most essential right.
