by Abigail Appel | Aug 4, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1
The terrifying and senseless act of violence that took place this morning is a wake up call to local leaders that we must act immediately to protect the residents of our city.
In the past week alone, two innocent young women have been the victims of brutal violence on our city streets. I strongly support my City Council colleague, Councilor David Salvatore and urge my colleagues to suspend August recess for an emergency meeting.
The City Council must meet with Mayor Elorza, Commissioner Pare and the Police Department to ensure that any and all steps are being taken to protect residents in our city from the gun violence and dangerous behavior that has been plaguing our city streets.
It is our responsibility to face these matters head on and make critical changes to stop the cycle of any violence that is endangering the community and the residents of our city.
John Goncalves
Councilman, Ward 1
Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Aug 4, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
I was horrified to hear reports that at 6 A.M. this morning, a woman was pulled from her car and beaten by ATV riders while her eight-month-old child was in the car with her. As a husband, father and resident of Providence, this news is disturbing and deeply unsettling.
Firstly, the victim and her family are in my prayers. I have been in contact with Commander Verdi and he assures me the Police Department is working swiftly to apprehend the individuals who committed this heinous act of violence.
I am calling on my council colleagues to suspend our August recess to convene an emergency City Council as a Whole meeting. I am calling on Mayor Elorza, Commissioner Pare and the Providence Police Department to join us to discuss their plan to address the violence in our city, which has become an out of control, almost daily threat to the safety of our residents.
As local leaders, we owe it to our community to create systems which ensure that our city is a safe place to live and work. A woman driving in her car with her infant child should not have to fear being a victim of brutal physical violence.
The gun violence, the physical attacks and reckless behavior of individuals in our city have resulted in grief, loss, and fear in our community. It is time for the city to take decisive action to put a stop to this senseless violence and better serve the people trying to make a home in the city of Providence.
David Salvatore
Councilman, Ward 14
Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Aug 3, 2021 | Press Release, Ward-7
Community policing initiative, increased number of police officers on the street, diversion programs all needed to address increase in crime.
In response to a wave of serious violent crime incidents in recent weeks, City Council President John Igliozzi joined by Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan are calling for a return to community policing in the City of Providence. In order to accomplish that goal, they are also calling for sustained investments in new, diverse Providence Police Academies to bring the City’s police force back to full strength to enable community policing in every neighborhood.
“The level of violence we are seeing in the City of Providence this summer is unacceptable,” said Council President John Igliozzi. “Homicides, shootings, stabbings, and other violent crime are reaching crisis levels. Too many residents in my ward have told me that they do not feel safe sitting outside in their own yards or walking local streets at certain hours. That is why I am calling for a return to the community policing model which worked so well to reduce crime in our City. Unfortunately, we have allowed the Providence Police Department to drop from nearly 500 full-time officers, the level we were at when the community policing model was built in 2003, to a current staffing level of only 402 full-time officers, of which 113 are eligible for retirement. On November 6, we will graduate a new Police Academy that will bring on 50 new police officers. That’s not enough. We must bring on more new diverse Providence police recruits as quickly as possible so they can get out into our neighborhoods and get back to community policing, which worked so well in the past but is heavily dependent on having a full complement of officers. That is why the Council recently approved a FY 2022 budget that included funding for a new Providence Police Academy, and why I am committing today that the City’s next budget will include funding for another diverse Providence Police Academy.”
“The brazen violence we have seen over the last few weeks is shocking and unacceptable,” said Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan. “Public safety is more than just crime statistics, it’s about whether our City residents feel safe, and right now too many residents in my ward say they are concerned about violence impacting their neighborhood. We cannot allow this to continue. Public safety and residents feeling safe in their own community is at the core of any great City, and that’s why we must act now. The City Council stepped up to the plate in our FY 2022 budget by funding a new Providence Police Academy, but it is becoming clear that we must continue to replenish the ranks of the Providence Police Department. That is why I fully support Council President Igliozzi’s call for another Police Academy to be included in the next City budget and a return to community policing in earnest. We are committed to providing our Police Department the resources they need to return to community policing in every neighborhood of our City and to reduce the increase in violent crime that we are unfortunately experiencing. We are also committed to continuing to explore the addition of diversion programs to support our public safety initiatives.”
by Abigail Appel | Aug 1, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-3
I am deeply saddened by the numerous violent acts that took place across our city last night, which resulted in multiple injuries and the death of a 20-year old woman.
I have spoken with Mayor Elorza, Police Chief Clements and I am working with the Public Safety Department and the Institute for Non-Violence as our community grapples with these devastating events.
The families of the young woman who tragically died, and all those who were injured last night, remain in my prayers. I have reached out to the young woman’s family to offer my condolences and support.
As elected officials and community leaders, we must work together to keep guns off our streets and create productive and healthy alternatives for youth in our city.
This is not who we are as a city. As we move forward let us remember that violence only brings pain and suffering. I will continue to work with the community and stakeholders in honor of those who have been impacted by the violence in our city.
Nirva LaFortune
Councilwoman, Ward 3
Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Jul 29, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
I was embarrassed to watch as the Mayor of our city provoked an inappropriate altercation between himself and Governor McKee.
As an elected official, I hold my government colleagues to a high standard of professionalism, especially at community events that are meant to be joyful and positive.
While I understand that many of us often feel passionately about the issues we advocate for, raised voices and aggressive behavior will never result in productive change.
I was extremely disappointed in Mayor Elorza’s behavior last night, and moving forward I hope that all elected leaders in our city will remember that we have been elected by Providence residents to care for our great city, and this behavior is a disservice to those we represent.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
Councilman, Ward 4
Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Jul 28, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
Last night, I was glad to join community members at the Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC) meeting, to welcome the decision the CRMC made to protect public shoreline access on Public Street in Providence.
Shoreline access is a legally protected right in Rhode Island. All residents living in the Ocean State should be able to access our beautiful shorelines, including here in Providence.
I would like to thank the office of Attorney General Peter Neronha, the CRMC, the City of Providence, and the many community activists who advocated to protect this right of way.
Moving forward, I hope we can continue this momentum, working to expand environmental equity in the south side of Providence and throughout the city.
Pedro Espinal
President Pro Tempore-Providence City Council
Councilman-Ward 10
