by Billy Kepner | May 17, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Like many in my community, it has been upsetting to say the least, at the lack of respect and decorum of our college community during this past week.
The behavior that has been illustrated on Eaton Street and in other areas of our City is in opposition to nearly every guideline our State health officials have put forth to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our colleges and universities are community partners, but in this instance, their response and their actions have failed us and put our residents at risk.
Selfish behavior by these students also put our public safety officials in harm’s way and took them away from other duties.
I understand that graduating from college is a pivotal moment in a young person’s life, but we are living under a different set of circumstances. This behavior is abhorrent, and my concern for my neighbors does not end today, but what happens when these leases turn over and a new crop of off-campus students come into our neighborhoods? I am asking our College and University partners to explain how they are going to help mitigate this type of behavior from continuing.
The summer months are quickly approaching, and the virus might slow down, but it is far from over. We need to have a plan to keep our residents and our public safety officials safe. Young people are not immune to this virus. They could be asymptomatic carriers and not even know it. They could be moving here from areas that are still considered “hot spots,” and if this behavior continues it could make our cases – which are already at the top in the state – continue to grow rather than decrease.
I will be working with my colleagues to pass legislation requiring our City’s colleges and universities to provide a mitigation plan to keep our off-campus students and neighbors – many of whom who have lived in our neighborhoods for generations – safe as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic and our “new normal.”
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 5
by Billy Kepner | May 17, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-12
I have gotten multiple calls this week from concerned friends and neighbors who have witnessed reckless partying on Eaton Street. The partying, occurring in off-campus housing abutting Providence College comes at a time when the COVID-19 crisis remains extremely dangerous and is taking lives every day.
According to the Rhode Island Department of Health gatherings are still limited to 5 or less, and these students refuse to comply with that and other safety precautions put forth by the Department.
These students endangered my community, a largely low income and black and brown community that has been hit hard by the pandemic. In fact, the “02908”, which is a popular housing company for students, was in the top 5 zip codes in the state for COVID-deaths.
A few days ago, a white student reportedly told a community member to “fall down the stairs” when she voiced her concern about student partying in her neighborhood. This news is especially troubling during a week when we have learned that two innocent, Black Americans lost their lives at the hands of white violence and multiple white police officers issued force when addressing Black and Brown Americans who were not wearing masks in public.
The Providence College community must learn to be more sensitive about their positionally in the community which they continue to gentrify and benefit from. I am disgusted by this behavior and I look forward to an apology from these students and a conversation with the College about how they will remedy this hurt that they have caused Smith Hill and my neighborhood.
To be clear, the problem is not exclusively Providence College students— Johnson and Wales University and Bryant College students also live around the PC campus on the street perpendicular to Eaton. Regardless, they remain the majority of students living in this area.
Kat Kerwin
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 12
by Billy Kepner | May 16, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Over the past few days I have seen a number of my neighbors posting images on Facebook and other platforms of large gatherings of young people, likely college students, who were not wearing face masks, not socially distancing, and gathering in groups far larger than they should.
As we see cases of the coronavirus decreasing across the State, our City is still seeing high infection rates. We have to be prepared for when this virus returns again in the fall, and that is why I am going to be holding a meeting in the coming weeks with stakeholders across the City to ensure that we keep our college population safe and that of our residents.
As the Councilor for much of the Elmhurst neighborhood, I was shocked to see photos of our local college students – who were still in their rental units – disregarding the orders put forth by Governor Raimondo. Moreover, I was disappointed while driving down Eaton Street recently and seeing it covered in trash from what looked like a party environment. I am concerned that these gatherings are not just happening in Elmhurst, but could be happening across the City where our several universities reside. That is why as a City we need to have a proactive approach to dealing with our college population when they return, as some off-campus students will be returning as early as June 1.
We have empathy for all of our college students whose lives were transformed in a day – the rites of passage of graduating, spending that last night with their friends at their favorite college bar, the chance to have those last moments of freedom before they end this chapter of their lives were taken away. Yet, we were all young and many of us thought we were invincible. What we know of this virus is that no one is invincible – not even young healthy college kids.
Like them, our lives have been turned upside down. Those lucky enough to have a job and work from home are doing so, those of us with school-aged children are now working as teachers aids, all while balancing the stress that this pandemic has caused for each of us.
Our colleges are vital parts of our economy, but we have to be vigilant for them and for our residents. We have to listen to scientists that believe the virus will return again and we are still months and months away from a cure or a vaccine.
As our younger residents wind down their time here in Providence, I ask them to think about their neighbors, the families they are returning home to, their futures, and their health. We are not out of the woods yet, and as Robert Frost once wrote – We have miles to go before we sleep.
Let’s take care of each other and ourselves. We all play a part – young and old alike.
David A. Salvatore
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 14
by Billy Kepner | May 15, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-13, Ward-15
The Providence City Council and the Providence City Archives have teamed up to create an online exhibit in celebration of PRIDE Month this June. The exhibit will share the history of LGBTQIA+ rights in Providence as well as highlighting the stories of today’s LGBTQIA+ community and their allies in the City.
From community leaders to local organizations and businesses, to out LGBTQIA+ residents and their allies; the goal of the exhibit is to share the diverse and wide-ranging stories that have enriched our community for so many years.
“Part of what makes Providence such an amazing place to live is that our residents have so many different backgrounds and personal stories that have shaped the fabric of our City. What I have found in my tenure on the Council is that everyone has a story to tell. We can all learn something from one another when we share these stories and listen to other perspectives. PRIDE Month is the perfect time for all of us to share those stories and experiences as allies and as members of the LGBTQIA+ community,” stated Council President Sabina Matos
The online exhibit will be updated throughout the month of June on the Providence City Council web page. Anyone who would like to participate can fill out the online survey created by Shaina Weintraub, the Reference and Multimedia Administrator to the City Archives.
“Working as a historian, I often find that marginalized groups are left out of the narrative. Women, minorities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community; so many people who make up the fabric of the City of Providence, did not get the recognition they deserved in the historic records that are supposed to tell the story of our City and nation. That it is why it is so important for us to start now. We all have a mark to leave and a story to tell. The City Archives is committed to sharing and preserving these stories and will be focusing on the LGBTQIA+ community not just for the month of June but moving forward into the future,” stated Ms. Weintraub.
The City Council and City archives also work together to create a Black History Month exhibit every year. Spearheaded by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris and CIty Archivist Caleb Horton, this exhibit is on display at City Hall for the month of February and March. This year’s theme was Pillars on Race: The Story of Race in Providence from 1935 to Today. Community members have the opportunity to share their personal stories and experiences in this exhibit as well.
“I am so proud that the City Council and the City Archives have consistently committed to representing all members of our community. From race to gender, to sexual orientation, to religion everyone has a place in the City of Providence and I look forward to celebrating PRIDE Month with them and with everyone who participates in this exciting exhibit,” stated Councilor Rachel Miller.
by Billy Kepner | May 15, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Uncategorized, Ward-4
When you started your college experience, I can’t imagine that you would have thought that it would have drawn to an end like this -classes ending abruptly, you finishing your final semester via Zoom, and having to say goodbye to the memories and friends you made over your college experience in just a few days. This is the reality that will bind each of you for years to come.
I realize that the pomp and circumstance that you have come to associate as the reward for working hard to earn your degree won’t happen this year, but that doesn’t make your accomplishments any less meaningful.
To all our residents who are graduating from college this month, I wish you well in your future endeavors. I would also remind you to look back on this time for what it was and realize that you were taught a very valuable life lesson – that sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, and we need to adjust to change quickly and adapt, and I know you did so very well!
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Billy Kepner | May 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
I want to echo my colleague’s concerns about tomorrow’s City scheduled property tax sale. As we have navigated through this global pandemic, City Hall has been shuttered to visitors since Friday, March 13 at 4:30 PM. Making it impossible for residents to come into the tax office to meet with the Tax Accessor to discuss any kind of mitigation or repayment plans that they may have needed.
I applaud the Administration for listening to the concerns shared by the City Council, and their willingness to postpone the sale giving residents time to make in-person visits to the Tax Collector or Accessors Office after City buildings reopen to the public in June. This will give residents time to catch-up on their payments before their next tax bills come due.
In light of the current circumstances, I think this is a sensible approach and one that puts our residents first.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
