“These past few weeks, there have been two shooting incidents, one at Billy Taylor Park, the latest this Saturday afternoon in the heart of our Summit neighborhood. Both struck a personal chord for me,” said Councilwoman for Ward 3, Nirva LaFortune. “My children have played at Billy Taylor Park, and my daughter’s young friend, who has been part of our family with sleepovers and bike rides, reached out to me concerned about the shooting near Camp Street and Dexterdale Road. She lives three houses away, where multiple shell casings were discovered on the ground. This must end. How are these young people getting such easy access to guns? We must step up our efforts to prevent these crimes from happening. We need to pass stronger sense laws, invest in our neighborhoods, implement and execute a public safety plan, and get back to the basics of community policing. I ask anyone with ideas to please come to our community meeting on May 31, 5:30 P.M, at Billy Taylor Park.”
City Council Approves $124million in Federal Stimulus Funds
and Separately Passes $5.5 million in Neighborhood Grants
ARPA Ordinance
Providence, RI – At tonight’s Providence City Council meeting, councilors overwhelmingly approved $124 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that will directly impact city residents and build long-term investments in Providence’s neighborhoods. The allocated funding includes substantial investments in housing, parks and recreation centers, tourism, travel, hospitality, water/sewer infrastructure improvements, and economic relief for small businesses and many organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Taxpayers should know these dollars will be tracked and accounted for by an independent auditor. This was a necessary checks and balances mechanism. My colleagues and I demanded accountability,” said Council President John Igliozzi. The accounting firm of Clifton Larsen Allen LLP will serve as the independent auditor. “I am proud of the hard work and collaborative efforts of the City Council and administration,” said Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan. “In the wake of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, this is the long-awaited relief and investment in our recovery that the people of Providence need and deserve.”
ARPA Ordinance Summary
Investment in Housing
$30.7 million
Investment in Water, Sewer, Broadband and Infrastructure
$20 million
Investments in Community and Social Disparities
$24.3 million
Speeding the Recover of the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Sectors
$6.2 million
Economic Stabilization-Business
$2.7 million
Revenue Recovery
$36.7 million
Administration expenditures/audit ($300,000)
$3 million
Total = $123,769,438
The ARPA ordinance covers a period of January 6, 2022, through December 31, 2024. A detailed copy of the ordinance can be found here.
Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG)
For the first time, Councilors passed the $5.5 million community development block grant budget (CDBG), federal funding that will immediately help make improvements and additions to city neighborhoods. CDBG funding includes financial support to community centers and provides grants for economic development and public service programs across the city. Many public service grants help with unemployment, homelessness, public health, clothing insecurity, music education, and domestic violence resources/emergency housing. Some beneficiaries include established providers like Amos House, Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, and the Rhode Island Free Clinic. The CDBG budget was vetted by the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning and chaired by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). The budget will require a second vote for passage. A breakdown of the CDBG funds can be found here: CDGB 2022-2023
Right to an Adequate Education
Councilors also passed a resolution requesting the House Committee on State Government and Elections and the Rhode Island House of Representatives pass Senate Bill S-2095 and its House companion. The legislation would place a referendum before voters to make education a fundamental right in the State of Rhode Island. Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) sponsored the resolution, co-sponsored by the Council.
Investments in housing, infrastructure, businesses, and neighborhoods
Providence, RI – Tonight, the Providence City Council voted to approve the first passage of a $124 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ordinance that will fund significant long-term investments in the city. Those investments include funding for housing, water/sewer and broadband infrastructure, parks and recreation centers, tourism, travel, and hospitality, as well as economic relief for businesses and organizations hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I want to thank my council colleagues and Finance Committee Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan for vetting this critical budget. We have invested heavily in housing, our parks, and neighborhood recreation centers,” said Council President John Igliozzi. “Tracking these federal dollars remains an important priority of the Council. That’s why an independent auditor will monitor and report all expenses.” The ARPA ordinance will require a second passage vote next week.
ARPA Ordinance Summary
Investment in Housing
$30.7 million
Investment in Water, Sewer, Broadband and Infrastructure
$20 million
Investments in Community and Social Disparities
$24.3 million
Speeding the Recover of the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Sectors
$6.2 million
Economic Stabilization-Business
$2.7 million
Revenue Recovery
$36.7 million
Administration expenditures/audit ($300,000)
$3 million
Total = $123,769,438
The ARPA ordinance covers a period of January 6, 2022, through December 31, 2024. A detailed copy of the ordinance can be found here.
Mayor Elorza has submitted a budget to the City Council, and now the budgetary process begins in earnest with the Council’s Finance Committee. I am encouraged that the proposed budget funds a new police academy, putting more officers on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Providence residents deserve to be safe. Another bright spot reduces the car tax and its’ eventual phase out next year. Small and large business owners will see a drop in the city’s commercial tax rate on real estate for the first time in 10 years. We all know the real estate market has seen enormous gains over the last few years. New tax assessments from the city have gone out in the mail, which show those increased values. I want to assure taxpayers that the City Council will work with the administration to help balance those new values with the tax rate to impact homeowners minimally.
City Council Finance Committee Approves $124 million in Federal Stimulus Funds for Major Investments Throughout Providence
Providence, RI – Tonight, the Providence City Council’s Committee on Finance approved $124 million in an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ordinance that will fund significant long-term investments in housing, water/sewer and broadband infrastructure, community and social disparities, parks and recreation centers, tourism, travel, and hospitality, as well as economic relief for businesses and organizations hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was important for the finance committee to thoroughly review this budget and scrutinize every expenditure,” said Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, Chair of the Finance Committee. “The committee prioritized investments in housing, economic development, and infrastructure that touched every neighborhood. We’ve increased aid to elderly services and our libraries, set aside money for sidewalk repairs, and addressed food insecurities. Any modifications to the mayor’s proposed budget accounted for infrastructure commitments, changing priorities, and federal funding opportunities that could be found elsewhere. Residents should know the incredible responsibility of dispersing this money will be tracked and monitored by an independent auditor. This remains a top priority of the Council.”
“Guided by robust community input, Providence will be investing millions of dollars throughout our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “I look forward to working with the full City Council to finalize these allocations and move these critical investments forward.”
“These stimulus dollars allow us to make much-needed investments in our city that will have immediate and generational impacts,” said Council President John Igliozzi. “I thank Mayor Elorza and my council colleagues, particularly Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, for working collaboratively on a comprehensive plan but one that also zeroes in on certain priorities for our neighborhoods like housing development and upgrades to 21 of our community recreation centers across the city.”
ARPA Ordinance Summary
Investment in Housing
$30.7 million
Investment in Water, Sewer, Broadband and Infrastructure
$20 million
Investments in Community and Social Disparities
$24.3 million
Speeding the Recover of the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Sectors
$6.2 million
Economic Stabilization-Business
$2.7 million
Revenue Recovery
$36.7 million
Administration expenditures/audit ($300,000)
$3 million
Total = $123,769,438
The ARPA ordinance covers a period of January 6, 2022, through December 31, 2024. The ordinance will now be presented to the full Council for a future vote. A detailed copy of the ordinance can be found here.
Council Passes Law to Help Prevent Catalytic Converter Thefts and Addresses Street Sweeping Parking, Proposes Tax Exemption for Electric Vehicles Charging Stations & More
Catalytic Converters
An ordinance regarding catalytic converter theft sponsored by Councilor David Salvatore received final passage at tonight’s Council meeting. This ordinance takes effect as efforts are made at the city and state levels to curb the growing trend of catalytic converters being stolen from cars and sold to junk and second-hand dealers. Councilor Salvatore’s ordinance will impose stricter sales regulations, and record-keeping to be shared with local police and provides law enforcement with tools to closely monitor sales and investigate trends while strengthening penalties for repeat offenders.
Parking for Street Sweeping
Tonight, the Council voted for final passage on an ordinance sponsored by Councilor David Salvatore, creating a framework for parking management options during city street sweeping procedures. This new amendment will allow the Department of Public Works to enact parking bans in areas where streets are being cleaned and provide alternative side street parking for area residents. The DPW will begin piloting this program in the coming weeks, emphasizing resident outreach and project efficiency.
Electric charging stations
Councilman John Goncalves proposed an ordinance that would exempt Electric Vehicle Charging stations from taxation. This proposed exemption will apply to individuals who purchase electric vehicle charging stations for their homes and businesses that provide electric vehicle charging stations for customers. The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Ordinances for further review. “Providence is moving towards the future. My proposal will create incentives for residents and business owners to embrace green transportation as a long-term part of everyday life. As the City’s legislative branch, I am hopeful that the City Council will continue to enact legislation which encourages green lifestyle choices and business practices,” stated Councilman John Goncalves.
Resolution calls on local, federal governments to address climate change
The Green New Deal is at the heart of a new proposal introduced before the Council tonight. Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune, President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal, Councilman John Goncalves, and Councilor Kat Kerwin co-sponsored the resolution calling on the City of Providence to join the federal government in embracing tougher regulations to reduce carbon emissions. If passed, the resolution asks the Mayor, Office of Sustainability, and Planning Department to formalize a detailed plan for how to cut greenhouse gases in Providence. “The time is now to take action to help future generations of Rhode Islanders,” said President Pro Tempore Espinal. “It’s vital to formalize a clear and proven plan to achieve carbon neutrality.” The city’s Office of Sustainability is currently working to create strategies to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Councilors challenge use of solitary confinement in Rhode Island prisons
A group of City Councilors is taking aim at controversial solitary confinement practices in local facilities. Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal, Councilman John Goncalves, Councilor Kat Kerwin, and Councilman Nicholas Narducci co-sponsored a resolution introduced at tonight’s meeting, which cites “an abuse in authority” leading to the solitary confinement of some prisoners for up to 7 years. “Solitary confinement is an antiquated, ineffective means of handling prisoners in RI facilities,” said Councilwoman Harris. “We need to take immediate action to limit the duration of confinement and protect the human rights of the incarcerated population.” The resolution supports and urges the passage of House Bill H-7760 to establish policies and procedures to minimize the use of solitary confinement and create accountability guidelines.
