by Billy Kepner | Apr 16, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) will introduce a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Armand E. Batastini, Jr. at tonight’s City Council meeting.
Mr. Batastini was a lifelong resident of Providence, he was a baseball and basketball coach, and an active community member of Ward Five, and he sadly passed away on April 11, 2020 at the age of 89.
“The passing of Armand Batastini is heartbreaking to all who knew him,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “He was a mentor and friend who shared freely with me his breadth of experience. I will miss him dearly.”
Mr. Batastini is a true son of Providence. He attended La Salle Academy, Brown University, and later graduated from Providence College as a member of the class of 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. After he graduated college, he dutifully served his Country as a member of the United States Navy. Following his tour, he earned his Masters of Education in Physical Education, Health, and Recreation from Boston University, but he returned home to his beloved Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood.
He served as the Rhode Island State Representative for District 8, which includes the Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Providence, from 1977 to 1992. During his tenure, he served as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims and the Vice-Chairperson on the Health, Education, and Welfare Committee.
His love of politics and public service did not end nor begin at the State House. Throughout his life, he was very involved in all aspects of his community. Mainly through sports, where he was the founder and later acted as a board member for the Elmhurst Little League for 41 years, and he was a coach of the St. Pius CYO basketball team for 61 years. He touched the lives of thousands of young people who looked up to him not only as their Coach but as a mentor through his dedication to sports and the community that he built.
He worked as the Supervisor of the Johnson & Wales University Recreation Center. He spent the majority of his career as a student support specialist for the Providence School Department for 36 years. Also, he worked as a Supervisor and Director for the Kennedy Recreation Center at the Providence Recreation Department for 25 years.
Majority Leader Ryan continued, “As the Councilwoman for Ward 5, I was lucky enough to work hand in glove with him on behalf of our residents. Not only was he the Chairperson for the Fifth Ward Democratic Committee, but he was also the Vice-Chairperson for the Providence Democratic City Committee and a State Democratic Committee Member for the Fifth Representative District. He lived his life in service to others, and that is why one of the greatest honors of my life was being able to rename the Pleasant View Recreational Center to the ‘Armand E. Batastini, Jr. Recreational Center’ in recognition of his many years of dedicated public service.”
Above all else, Coach Batastini was a devout family man, and he is survived by his loving wife, Mary E. Batastini, their four children, Armando, Maria, Laurie, and Christina, and his five grandchildren, Olivia, Paul, Emilia, Ryanne, and Lucien. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to the Providence Recreation Support Fund. Checks should be made out to Providence Recreation Support Fund – Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center and mailed to 11 West Drive, Providence, RI 02904.
At the request of Majority Leader Ryan, the City’s Flag above City Hall will be flown at half-staff on Saturday, April 18, in honor of Mr. Batastini’s service to the City he so dearly loved.
by Billy Kepner | Apr 16, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4, Ward-6
City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6) and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4) will be introducing a resolution calling on the City’s Department of Public Works to prepare and issue an operations plan to ensure essential city services are carried out in a safe and timely manner at tomorrow’s City Council meeting.
“I have heard from residents daily regarding deplorable conditions of our City’s neighborhoods,” stated City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “My colleagues and I understand the unique circumstances we are in, but by being creative with how we schedule our DPW crews, we should not be having these issues. We are in a unique opportunity to use our existing workforce to do much-needed maintenance across the City, and by creating an operations plan, I believe we can achieve that end.”
Since the declaration of the state of emergency within the City, there has been a significant reduction in the services provided by the Department of Public Works especially surrounding the operation of the department’s highway division and the ability to respond to calls in a timely manner.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. stated, “Our residents deserve better. They work very hard to pay their taxes, and they expect that we will honor our obligations to them as residents. When we let trash pile-up and allow the illegal dumping of mattresses and bulky items across the City, we are just creating more problems that we will need to deal with at a later date. The City can safely deploy teams of five or less to accomplish many of the services that are needed to keep our City clean and safe, all while protecting the hardworking men and women of the DPW.”
As a result of the reduced services from the Department of Public Works, there has been an unacceptable increase in the amount of trash and bulk items strewn around the City’s streets and open spaces with no timetable for their removal. If not dealt with promptly, the rapid accumulation of trash across the City will result in a growing public health issue and interfere with the rendering of other essential city services needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Providence City Council requests that the Director of the Department of Public Works submit an operations plan to the City Council that sets forth in detail how the department will meet its obligations to the residents of the City during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Billy Kepner | Apr 10, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7, Ward-8
Last night, the City Council’s Committee on Finance approved an additional $5 Million for new fire apparatus through the City’s Master Lease Agreement.
“I would like to thank Chairman John J. Igliozzi (Ward 7) for his leadership of the Council’s Committee on Finance, and my fellow members of the Committee for acting swiftly after we heard from Derek Silva, President of the Providence Firefighters Union for the need to replace much of their aging fleet,” stated Councilman James E. Taylor (Ward 8). ” The Committee quickly brought back the City’s Master Lease Agreement and tonight approved the necessary funds for these vital pieces of equipment.”
The additional funds will go towards the purchase of potentially four ladder trucks, two fire engines, and one rescue apparatus.
Chairman on the Committee of Finance, John J. Igliozzi, Esq. stated, “This is an important investment in our City’s Fire Department. Our current fleet is aging-out and it was imperative that the Council ensure that the men and women of our Fire Department have the equipment they need to do their job safely, and with the knowledge that the equipment is in working order.”
Derek Silva, the President of the Local Fire Fighters Union, shared his concern regarding the aging fleet with the Council earlier this year. It was at his urging that the Committee revisited the needs of the Fire Department’s fleet.
“The Council’s top priority is the safety of our residents,” stated Majority Leader and Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Finance Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5). “We are in the midst of a world-wide pandemic and our Fire Department is often the first on the scene at any emergency. They are charged with ensuring the safety of our resident and their property, and without adequate equipment, it puts all of us in jeopardy. Our City’s economic outlook is precarious due to COVID-19, but the use of our precious tax dollars on this investment is not only prudent but necessary.”
The amendment to the Master Lease Agreement will go to the full Council for vote and passage at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
by Billy Kepner | Apr 4, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
I applaud the decision of the Rhode Island State Board of Elections who voted unanimously Friday to move the City of Providence Ward 1 Special Election to June 2, 2020 the same day set for the state-wide Presidential Preference Primary.
Thursday night, the City Council, at the request of the City Solicitor, voted to postpone the Ward 1 special election to May 5th, or the earliest date possible all while keeping with Governor Raimondo’s Emergency Public Health Executive Orders.
The Council did not make this decision lightly. Our goal has always been to fill the vacancy as soon as possible, but in the face of this global pandemic, we cannot ignore the seriousness of our current public safety crisis.
Governor Raimondo has been quite clear in her message, the better we adhere to the advice of the medical community today, the sooner we get back to work.
I wish to thank the Board of Elections for taking a wise and well-measured approach. The Board of Elections rightly expressed in its decision that the Council attempted to strike a balance between representation and risk to public health.
We all share the concerns and understand the frustration that many members of the Ward 1 community expressed, nonetheless we had to make public health the priority.
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 5
by Billy Kepner | Apr 3, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-6
Tonight Providence City Councilors introduced a resolution calling for the State of Rhode Island to suspend evections and foreclosures and enact a series of other measures to protect Providence residents until the COVID-19 crisis is no longer a threat to our community. The resolution is co-sponsored by Councilors Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), and Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11).
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a recognized pandemic that has spread globally and threatens the health, well-being, and financial stability of community members in Providence and across the world. Since March 9, 2020 Rhode Island has been in a State of Emergency. With the closing of non-essential businesses, restaurants, bars, and the impact this has had on our robust gig-economy residents need protections to ensure they have the most basic necessities: shelter, food, and health care.
“We have to act now to help keep people in their homes. Importantly, this resolution asks for relief for renters, homeowners, landlords, and small business owners,” stated City Councilor Rachel Miller. “Thousands of Rhode Islanders and many service and restaurant workers in Federal Hill and the West End were suddenly unemployed. People are coming together from all walks of life to help and support one another right now, and attention to the issues of housing and homelessness is vital both now, and when we’re able to move to recovery.”
The City Council, like the State of Rhode Island, is committed to helping to stop the spread of this pandemic within our jurisdiction by encouraging common-sense measures. Practicing social distancing, frequent hand washing, limiting public events, and encouraging community members to stay at home are all simple ways to help stop the spread of the virus. Many community members are essential workers in healthcare, grocery, and the service and construction industries and cannot work from home. Many others have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 related preparedness measures.
Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune stated, “This resolution supports relief for residents and business owners who are trying to keep a roof over their heads during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many of our renters, homeowners, landlord, and business owners already struggle to make ends meet. For some of our most vulnerable community members, this Pandemic has exacerbated existing financial hardships that make it challenging and sometimes impossible to stay above water. Providing relief that will allow renters, homeowners, landlords, and small business owners to remain in their homes or keep their business is essential. It will assist our city and state in setting a path to economic recovery once this Pandemic is over. “
The resolution put forth tonight calls on the State of Rhode Island to take the following actions:
- Suspend evictions due to nonpayment of rent if the inability to pay rent is due to loss-of-income related to reasonable precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
- Suspend foreclosure proceedings for homeowners and landlords if the inability to make timely mortgage payments is related to reasonable precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
- Mandate that Unemployment Insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance be considered acceptable sources of income for all residential rental agreements.
- Mandate that all tax sale proceedings authorized by Rhode Island General Law §44-9 et. seq. be suspended until no earlier than July 15, 2020.
“Now more than ever, the residents of Providence need certainty in these uncertain times,” stated Councilman Pedro Espinal. “Residents should not live in fear of losing their homes, being evicted, or making choices between getting care if they are ill or paying rent. The neighborhoods I represent are home to some of the most economically challenged residents. They depend on their paychecks to make ends meet. Unemployment Insurance is a help, but my neighbors are having to make decisions between paying rent and buying groceries to feed their families. We need to provide them with some sense of assurance that they know that we will not leave them behind during this crisis. Taking these steps will go a long way to doing that.”
The members of the City Council applaud the work and the fortitude that Governor Raimondo has shown during this unprecedented global pandemic. The City Council supports the measures that the Governor and the Director Dr. Alexander-Scott from the Rhode Island Department of Health have put forth to stop the spread of the virus and to keep Rhode Islanders safe. Yet, it is paramount that we ensure that as Rhode Island slowly rebounds from this disaster that the most vulnerable members of our communities are not left behind.
Upon passage, a copy of this resolution will be transmitted to the Honorable Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the Field Office Director of the Rhode Island Branch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Honorable Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, the Honorable President of the Rhode Island Senate, all State Senators and State Representatives whose jurisdiction includes any part of the City of Providence, executive offices of National Grid, and executive offices of Providence Water.
PROVIDENCE, RI (April 2, 2020)…Tonight Providence City Councilors introduced a resolution calling for the State of Rhode Island to suspend evections and foreclosures and enact a series of other measures to protect Providence residents until the COVID-19 crisis is no longer a threat to our community. The resolution is co-sponsored by Councilors Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), and Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11).
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a recognized pandemic that has spread globally and threatens the health, well-being, and financial stability of community members in Providence and across the world. Since March 9, 2020 Rhode Island has been in a State of Emergency. With the closing of non-essential businesses, restaurants, bars, and the impact this has had on our robust gig-economy residents need protections to ensure they have the most basic necessities: shelter, food, and health care.
“We have to act now to help keep people in their homes. Importantly, this resolution asks for relief for renters, homeowners, landlords, and small business owners,” stated City Councilor Rachel Miller. “Thousands of Rhode Islanders and many service and restaurant workers in Federal Hill and the West End were suddenly unemployed. People are coming together from all walks of life to help and support one another right now, and attention to the issues of housing and homelessness is vital both now, and when we’re able to move to recovery.”
The City Council, like the State of Rhode Island, is committed to helping to stop the spread of this pandemic within our jurisdiction by encouraging common-sense measures. Practicing social distancing, frequent hand washing, limiting public events, and encouraging community members to stay at home are all simple ways to help stop the spread of the virus. Many community members are essential workers in healthcare, grocery, and the service and construction industries and cannot work from home. Many others have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 related preparedness measures.
Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune stated, “This resolution supports relief for residents and business owners who are trying to keep a roof over their heads during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many of our renters, homeowners, landlord, and business owners already struggle to make ends meet. For some of our most vulnerable community members, this Pandemic has exacerbated existing financial hardships that make it challenging and sometimes impossible to stay above water. Providing relief that will allow renters, homeowners, landlords, and small business owners to remain in their homes or keep their business is essential. It will assist our city and state in setting a path to economic recovery once this Pandemic is over. “
The resolution put forth tonight calls on the State of Rhode Island to take the following actions:
- Suspend evictions due to nonpayment of rent if the inability to pay rent is due to loss-of-income related to reasonable precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
- Suspend foreclosure proceedings for homeowners and landlords if the inability to make timely mortgage payments is related to reasonable precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
- Mandate that Unemployment Insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance be considered acceptable sources of income for all residential rental agreements.
- Mandate that all tax sale proceedings authorized by Rhode Island General Law §44-9 et. seq. be suspended until no earlier than July 15, 2020.
“Now more than ever, the residents of Providence need certainty in these uncertain times,” stated Councilman Pedro Espinal. “Residents should not live in fear of losing their homes, being evicted, or making choices between getting care if they are ill or paying rent. The neighborhoods I represent are home to some of the most economically challenged residents. They depend on their paychecks to make ends meet. Unemployment Insurance is a help, but my neighbors are having to make decisions between paying rent and buying groceries to feed their families. We need to provide them with some sense of assurance that they know that we will not leave them behind during this crisis. Taking these steps will go a long way to doing that.”
The members of the City Council applaud the work and the fortitude that Governor Raimondo has shown during this unprecedented global pandemic. The City Council supports the measures that the Governor and the Director Dr. Alexander-Scott from the Rhode Island Department of Health have put forth to stop the spread of the virus and to keep Rhode Islanders safe. Yet, it is paramount that we ensure that as Rhode Island slowly rebounds from this disaster that the most vulnerable members of our communities are not left behind.
Upon passage, a copy of this resolution will be transmitted to the Honorable Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the Field Office Director of the Rhode Island Branch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Honorable Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, the Honorable President of the Rhode Island Senate, all State Senators and State Representatives whose jurisdiction includes any part of the City of Providence, executive offices of National Grid, and executive offices of Providence Water.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 30, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-8
Today, The Board of Contract and Supply approved an additional $5 Million for new fire apparatus. This is great news for the hardworking men and women of the Providence Fire Department.
I would like to thank Chairman John J. Igliozzi (Ward 7) for his leadership of the Council’s Committee on Finance, and my fellow members of the Committee, for acting swiftly after we heard from Derek Silva, President of the Providence Firefighters Union for the need to replace much of their aging fleet.
The Committee quickly brought back the City’s Master Lease Agreement and allocated the necessary funds for these vital pieces of equipment. I am glad to know that we are moving in the right direction to give them the tools they need to do the job safely and confidently.
