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
by Billy Kepner | May 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6
After hearing from several constituents with concerns regarding their inability to pay their property taxes due to the closure of City Hall, my staff reached out to the Administration to pause Thursday’s previously scheduled tax sale.
During these difficult times, it seems prudent that we allow our constituents extra time to make payments that they may have otherwise made had City Hall been open. This does not mean that residents should not be paying their property taxes in a timely fashion, but in the absence of being able to make payments in person, I felt that we should delay Thursday’s proceedings.
I am glad to share that the Administration agreed and has postponed the tax sale for three additional months – allowing property owners extra time to pay their back taxes and to keep their homes.
I want to thank the Administration for hearing my concerns and acting so quickly to protect the residents of our great city.
Michael Correia, President Pro Tempore
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 6
by Billy Kepner | May 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-4, Ward-6
Tonight, the City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning (URRP) passed a second round of Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) Funding to help local agencies in the fight against COVID-19.
“This evening the URRP Committee ensured that 33 Providence-based social service agencies shared in the allocation of over nearly $3 Million in funding to assist in the fight against COVID-19,” stated Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). “The CARES Act which was passed by both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, and championed by our own federal delegation, allocated nearly $3 Billion in funds for local municipalities across the Country in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis. I am so grateful that we could help use these funds to support organizations like Meals on Wheels, DORCAS International, and Federal Hill House to name just a few. Each of these 33 organizations are doing critical work in every one of our City’s neighborhoods, and I am so proud of the work my Committee has done.”
In addition to the $3 Million in additional CDBG funding, the Committee had recently approved the allocation of more than $5 Million in CDBG funding for organizations that provide essential services in our community.
Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. stated, “It has been a difficult process to allocate this important funding to our neighborhood agencies. Each and every applicant was deserving, but with only limited resources, I believe we were able to make the most impact in our City. I thank each and every organization for their dedicated work to the residents of our City.”
Chairwoman Harris continued, “I want to thank the work of the Committee, City Council Chief of Staff Erlin Rogel, and Director of Community Development Emily Freedman of the Department of Planning and Development for their dedication and hard work in ensuring that we were able to maximize the allocation of funding for the residents of our City.”
The two CDBG budget allocations will go to the full Council for vote and passage.
For a complete list of awardees please visit the Open Meetings Portal at: https://bit.ly/URRPCommittee
by Billy Kepner | May 9, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5, Ward-7, Ward-8
Last night the City Council convened to vote on the extension of Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s Executive Order. The matter did not pass as it required a mega-majority vote (11 out of 14 affirmative votes) which it did not receive.
Pursuant to section 302-i of the City Home Rule Charter Mayor Elorza would need three-fourths of the Council to vote in the affirmative or 11 out of the current 14 voting members. Last night the vote was 7 ayes, 5 nays, 1 abstention, and 1 Councilor absent.
“The City Council has a sworn oath to uphold the City’s Home Rule Charter,” stated City Council Majority Whip John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7). “As a Council, we are the checks and balances of the Executive Branch and the Mayor’s order did not meet the requirements put forth by our founding mothers and fathers to extend, and our duty is to the will of the many not the will of one.”
What this means for the residents of Providence, is that all regulations put forth by Governor Gina Raimondo should be followed in its totality. With that, all parks and golf courses within the City limits will be open under the strict guidelines set forth by the Governor. No groups of five or more individuals shall gather together in the first phase of her plan to reopen the economy, cloth face masks must be worn at all times, and social distancing guidelines must be followed.
Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) stated, “The Mayor’s Executive Order did not meet the required vote to pass the City Council. It is our obligation to follow the Home Rule Charter to the letter, and that is what we did. These are difficult times, but we must follow the law.”
“Last night’s vote only proves that the Mayor is not following the guidelines set forth by Governor Raimondo,” stated Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8). “I have consistently voted against the Mayor’s Executives Orders as each one of them has not been consistent with the Governor’s.”
by Billy Kepner | May 7, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-2, Ward-6
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) put forth two resolutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; one regarding an expansion of SNAP benefits and the other regarding anti-Asian sentiment in the City of Providence.
The first resolution, sponsored by Council President Matos, Council President Pro-Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) and Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), urges the Federal government to expand SNAP benefit services in Rhode Island to include online and delivery services.
“The Council is confronting this crisis head on and is working with our partners in government to help the most vulnerable amongst us,” stated Council President Sabina Matos.
Currently, SNAP recipients must physically travel to the grocery stores to purchase food items. This has been identified as a possible reason for racial disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic, as these SNAP recipients are forced to leave their homes, possibly exposing themselves to the COVID-19 virus at a greater level than those who are able to have food delivered to them.
Council President Matos continued, “It is vital that as Councilors we advocate for all residents, not just in our respective Wards but across the City. Increasing ability for SNAP recipients to use third-party grocery services, and providing access to other ways in which to use them is important to creating healthy communities.”
The Council urges the Federal Government to expand SNAP benefits to include delivery and online services in Rhode Island and throughout the country. Currently, the only states with these types of services are New York, Nebraska, Oregon, Iowa, Alabama and Washington. Upon passage, this resolution will be sent to Governor Gina Raimondo and members of Rhode Island’s Federal delegation.
The second resolution, sponsored by the same five Councilors, denounces xenophobia against the Asian community in Providence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States has sadly seen an increase in racial profiling, hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans since the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The World Health Organization has made clear that the COVID-19 virus is not affected by ethnicities or borders. The use of geographic descriptors is reductive and has led to unfounded profiling of the Asian-American community.
Any person who has witnessed or experienced racial profiling or bigotry due to the COVID-19 pandemic is urged to contact authorities for a proper investigation.
“Our Asian community is an integral part of our City. They contributions they have made culturally and economically are numerous and priceless. This resolution should put everyone on notice that hatred or discrimination has no place in our City,” continued Council President Matos.
In Providence, 6.1% of the population is of Asian heritage. The Providence City Council reaffirms its commitment to the well-being and safety of Asian-Americans in our community, denounces any case of anti-Asian sentiment in the City of Providence, and is willing to take steps to combat any crimes targeting the Asian community.
Council President Matos added, “This is the time to lift our neighbors up, and not tear them down. This disease has touched the lives of over 10,000 Rhode Islanders and knows no race.”
