by Council Staff | Oct 16, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson, Sue AnderBois
Providence, RI – Today Providence City Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) introduced an ordinance to eliminate what sponsors call a favorite, unsanctioned tool of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – automated license plate readers.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit the City from either using ALPR technology in the future or entering into contracts with companies that use similar vehicle-location technologies. Ordinance sponsors say ALPRs infringe on civil liberties, and they cannot ignore rampant reports of misuse of these technologies by agencies like ICE to surveil and harass residents without their knowledge or consent.
As reported this week in the Providence Eye, this spring, Rhode Island College students studying privacy rights reviewed audits of data collected by automated license plate readers (ALPR) on RIC’s campus and in the City of Providence. Ordinance co-sponsor Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3) said their findings were disturbing.
“Flock and other license plate reader technologies are not keeping us safer. Data from Providence’s Flock cameras has been accessed millions of times — including by many organizations that do not have the required formal sharing agreements with the Providence Police Department,” said Councilor AnderBois. “This type of surveillance data is being weaponized across the country, and constant monitoring is an invasion of our civil liberties. Big corporations should not be allowed access to this type of data, and we will no longer permit monitoring people driving in and through Providence in this way.”
The ordinance was referred to committee.
Councilors also passed a resolution that will support the local economy by encouraging the City Treasurer to deposit City funds in banks that provide the best services and products whenever possible. This initial partnership will yield a higher rate on CDs exclusive to Providence residents who open or have savings accounts with the participating banks.
“We’re incentivizing local banks to invest further in our community and offering families opportunities to consider putting some dollars into an interest-bearing savings account,” said Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14). “It’s a win-win for both Providence residents and Providence businesses.”
Councilors also voted for the first time on a pedestrian safety measure that sponsors say is overdue.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit parking, stopping, or standing a vehicle within 20 feet of a marked crosswalk at an intersection and establish a $100 penalty for violations, allowing Providence parking enforcement officers to enforce crosswalk daylighting requirements through the municipal parking code.
The ordinance requires second passage before becoming law.
Finally, councilors unanimously passed a resolution honoring the Providence Grays’ historic contributions to baseball, including their 1884 championship, notable players, and Providence’s broader baseball legacy. The baseball team’s legacy and achievements will be celebrated at an upcoming plaque installation and ceremony.
The next full City Council meeting will be held on November 5, 2026.
by Council Staff | Jul 2, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, Jill Davidson, Miguel Sanchez, Press Release, Shelley Peterson
Providence, RI – At tonight’s city council meeting, councilors unanimously passed juvenile hearing board reforms that will fundamentally transform how the justice system treats young people by creating a clearer, fairer path to diversion for Providence youth.
The Juvenile Hearing Board (JHB), Providence’s community-based alternative to Family Court for eligible young people, connects youth with accountability, support services, and non-carceral responses to non-violent crimes. Instead of pushing children unnecessarily into the traditional court system, the JHB provides real opportunities to make amends, learn from mistakes, and move forward.
“Tonight’s vote answered a fundamental question for city government: what do we owe our children?” said Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6). “We owe them fairness, opportunity, consistency, forgiveness, and help. Every young person deserves a real chance to get on the right path—not to be pushed unnecessarily into the endless cycle known as the school-to-prison pipeline. The Juvenile Hearing Board can change a kid’s life, and under this ordinance, so many more Providence youth will have access to that chance, regardless of timing, luck, or which officer happens to be on duty.”
Under the current system, when an eligible young person is arrested, referral to the Juvenile Hearing Board is entirely at the discretion of the detective on duty. Over the course of three years, officers only referred 108 of the 508 young people eligible for the JHB to the Board. Additionally, not a single referral occurred during the evening shift, suggesting a child’s access to diversion was based not on the nature of their actions, but on circumstantial factors outside the child’s control. The new reforms will ensure fuller and more appropriate use of the JHB by making referrals automatic for eligible youth arrested for most first or second nonviolent offenses.
“Investment in schools, renovation of our parks, and reform of the Juvenile Hearing Board are all a part of the same system that wants to give our kids happy, healthy, safe childhoods while also setting them up for successful adulthoods,” said Luisa Sarante, the Juvenile Hearing Board Coordinator. “The JHB is there to make sure that setbacks don’t result in ruined childhoods or adulthoods that fail before they’ve even begun. These reforms mean more second chances, more opportunities to grow and learn from mistakes, and a more compassionate and socially responsible Providence.”
The ordinance will now be transmitted to Mayor Brett Smiley for his signature and will go into effect in 90 days.
Councilors also considered for the first time both an ordinance that would reduce exploitation of 8 Law in Providence and an ordinance that would remove a cost barrier to affordable housing development and construction in Providence.
The first ordinance, the Providence 8 Law Qualifications, establishes local rules for how Providence grants the 8% tax treatment within the city. According to sponsors, the 8 Law ordinance would end misuse of a low-income tax treatment by wealthy developers, who often use it for market rate or luxury properties.
In April 2024, the City Council passed by a 13-2 vote an 8 Law ordinance that would have applied the low-income tax treatment only to the restricted units themselves. The ordinance was then vetoed by Mayor Brett Smiley. Rather than just applying to individual units, the new version considered tonight sets affordability thresholds that work with other low-income housing programs. Working closely with affordable housing developers, the sponsors put forth an ordinance that aligns eligibility with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and other affordability programs, while ensuring that tax treatment is only used for properties with meaningful low-income housing.
Councilors also considered the BUILD Act, which would eliminate taxation during the construction period of affordable housing development, in a move that sponsors say will reduce a barrier to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Providence.
Currently, 8 Law only goes into effect upon the occupancy of rental units since the tax treatment is determined by rental income. In between the start of construction and occupancy, properties are taxed at the regular rate.
The BUILD Act will change that by providing a two-year tax stabilization period for eligible affordable development projects before tenants move in and are taxed at 8% of scheduled rental income. By removing the tax burden from the start, the BUILD Act would clear a difficult barrier to the construction of more affordable housing, especially the deeply affordable housing needed by the lowest income households.
Both the 8 Law ordinance and the BUILD Act require a second passage before becoming law.
Last week, the Working Group on Providence City Council’s Role in PPSD Governance concluded its work with an agreement among city leaders to advance an ordinance modernizing procurement procedures for the Providence Public School District (PPSD).
The ordinance, which Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) introduced at tonight’s meeting, would establish a tiered procurement framework for PPSD following the district’s return to local control. Currently, purchases above $10,000 for supplies and $20,000 for construction are required to go before the Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS). Under the new system, routine purchases, which constitute the vast majority of procurement activity, would be handled by the schools themselves, and only multi-year, sole-source, or $500K+ contracts would be subject to City review.
Councilors voted in favor of the ordinance for the first time this evening. Per Sec. 1007 (c) of the Providence Home Rule Charter, this ordinance requires a two-thirds vote to become law. A public hearing will be held on the proposal on July 13th at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber before it returns to the full City Council for a final vote.
Finally, councilors passed a resolution to change the name of the street that is home to Rhode Island’s School for the Deaf from Corliss Park to Jeanie Lippitt Circle. The request for the name change, which honors Lippitt’s role in inspiring advocacy for Deaf and hard-of-hearing education, came from students at the school, whose thorough research and presentation to Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) and other local leaders led to the name change.
“I’m so proud of these students,” said Councilwoman Peterson. “They recognized a problem – that their school’s address was too often confused with nearby Corliss Park – and came up with a solution that was both practical and meaningful.”
The next regular City Council meeting will convene on July 16, 2026.
by Council Staff | Mar 19, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Housing, John Goncalves, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson
Providence, RI – Tonight, Providence City Council held a full meeting in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall, where councilors presented several ordinances and resolutions on the topic of housing.
Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) introduced a Rent Housing Subsidy Ordinance, which would establish the Rental and Essential Needs Transition, or RENT Fund, and provide up to $3,000 in emergency one-time financial assistance to households at imminent risk of housing loss, shut-off of utilities, or insurance coverage loss. As written, the $800,000 in rental assistance funds would help up to 300 Providence households. This measure was announced earlier this week at a press conference with Mayor Brett Smiley and members of the City Council.
“Families can scrimp and save, plan and budget, but unexpected emergencies happen,” said Councilman Goncalves. “We created the RENT Fund because evictions ruin people’s lives. This fund will provide short-term relief to help struggling tenants through those moments of crisis so they can stay in their homes and communities.”
Like last year’s rental algorithm price-setting ban and the current proposed rent stabilization ordinance, the creation of an emergency eviction prevention fund is a recommendation from the 2025 Housing Crisis Task Force Report. According to the report, “[e]ven modest, one-time rental assistance payments have been shown to prevent displacement, stabilize families, and reduce the need for costly emergency shelter and rehousing services.”
The ordinance, which is sponsored by all 15 councilors, was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Councilors passed a resolution on the floor in opposition to H-8006, a Rhode Island State bill that would expand “8-Law,” which was originally designed to ensure fair and consistent taxation for low-income housing, to allow commercial-to-residential projects to qualify for a tax break if just 10% of the units in it are affordable to households making up to 120% of the area median income. The resolution raises concerns that the proposal undermines municipal taxing authority and shifts the burden onto local taxpayers.
“Workforce housing, while critically important, is not low-income housing, and municipalities cannot afford to tax it as if it were,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “Conversions are highly expensive, and the City Council is a willing partner in providing appropriate subsidies to enable them, provided that the granting authority rests with municipalities. As written, this bill would subsidize the wealthiest developers in the state while shifting the burden onto homeowners and other property owners.”
Earlier this month, Council President Miller sent a letter of opposition to the Committee on Municipal Government and Housing. The full letter is available upon request.
Councilors heard another ordinance in line with recommendations from the Housing Crisis Task Force Report. Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14), who led the Student Housing Task Force for about two years, introduced an amendment to the zoning ordinance establishing Student Housing Overlay Districts. The ordinance would create overlay districts to allow for higher-density off-campus student housing in designated areas surrounding colleges, while establishing a clear review process and standards to protect surrounding neighborhoods from overconcentration and gentrification. It is designed to ensure community voices are heard and considered in the development process, and to better plan, manage, and align student housing growth with the needs of the broader neighborhood beyond the immediate surrounding streets.
“Providence is very much a college town, so we need to protect our neighborhoods while accommodating student housing needs,” said Councilwoman Peterson. “This overlay district will help the city manage student housing density in a way that works for long-term Providence residents as well.”
The proposed ordinance was referred to the Special Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education (HOPE Committee).
Councilors also heard a resolution in support of deed fraud protection bills at the General Assembly. President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9) worked on related legislation during his tenure as a Rhode Island State Senator. The resolution was referred to the HOPE Committee.
Several additional resolutions supporting state legislation, including many that focused on childcare, were referred to the Special Committee on State Legislative Affairs.
The next regular City Council meeting will convene on April 2, 2026.
by Council Staff | Feb 5, 2026 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jill Davidson, John Goncalves, Oscar Vargas, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson, Sue AnderBois
Providence, RI – Tonight, the Providence City Council held a full meeting in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall.
Councilors unanimously approved a resolution denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s campaign of aggression around the country, and specifically the unjust killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were tragically killed by immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. As communities organize to support and protect each other from these violent, reckless attacks, Providence councilors extend solidarity and support to the people of Minneapolis.
“Federal officers are leading a campaign of terror in Providence and around the country, violating the constitutional rights of residents en masse,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “Today we stand with Minneapolis, and we rise together to defend democracy here and everywhere by calling on our Congressional delegation to abolish an agency that is perverting the principles of justice and fair treatment under the law.”
As Providence residents continue to report difficulty navigating snow and ice on the city’s streets, several councilors introduced a resolution seeking information, reflection, and accountability on the City’s storm preparation and management. The City Council’s Committee on Public Works held a public meeting with DPW leadership to discuss the handling of the storm on Tuesday, February 3. The resolution, which requests a formal report from the Department of Public Works, was referred to the Committee on Public Works.
“Obviously, a combination of intense snow accumulation, extreme cold, and insufficient resources led to a less-than-stellar response by DPW,” said Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14). “I look forward to reading DPW’s report so we can join the Administration in finding ways to improve our storm planning and management in the future.”
In response to reports that many stores in the greater Providence area have sold out of road salt, Councilman Oscar Vargas (Ward 15), who chairs the Committee on Public Works, presented a resolution requesting DPW distribute at least one ton of the city’s salt supply to residents to help clear sidewalks and driveways. The resolution was passed on the floor.
“Unfortunately, over the last week DPW’s plows have pushed snow into constituents’ sidewalks and driveways, causing accessibility issues,” said Councilman Vargas. “We’ve been experiencing extreme cold temperatures, and not all of the snow and ice has melted. With the lack of road salt available for purchase, we’re proposing that DPW provide some of their salt to Providence residents to melt the ice so pedestrians, strollers, and wheelchairs can once again get around safely.”
Councilors also introduced a resolution promoting sustainable and equitable funding for stormwater and sewer management. Providence has experienced 13 significant flooding events in the past three years that have endangered residents and damaged homes and businesses. In response, a Sustainable Stormwater and Sewer Assessment Study Task Force recommended establishing dedicated user fees for stormwater and sewer management. The resolution, which was introduced by Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) and Task Force member Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3), supports working in collaboration with the Administration to advance the task force’s recommendations, engage community members, and develop an implementation framework. It was referred to the Special Committee on Environment and Resiliency.
In a continued effort to advocate for safe, affordable housing, councilors heard two resolutions supporting state legislation that addresses housing issues. Councilors unanimously passed a resolution, introduced by Council President Miller, which supports $25 million general obligation housing bonds in the General Assembly. A second resolution introduced by Councilwoman Peterson supports H-7199 and S-2291, which amend the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to allow victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse to terminate a lease early without penalty or liability. This resolution was referred to the Special Committee on State Legislative Affairs.
Councilors also unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which took place on January 27, 2026. January 27th is the anniversary of the day the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
Councilors approved Mayor Brett Smiley’s appointment of Andrew Bramson, President and CEO of Onward We Learn, to the Providence School Board for Region 1. Bramson is currently serving as the Board Chair of the Central Falls School District.
The next city council meeting will take place on February 19th, 2026.
by Council Staff | Nov 6, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Council News, Jo-Ann Ryan, Juan M. Pichardo, Mary Kay Harris, Oscar Vargas, Press Release, Shelley Peterson, Sue AnderBois
Today, November 6 at 6PM, Providence City Council will convene for a full meeting in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall. Press and the public are invited to attend.
Councilors will consider second and final passage of amendments to the immigration section of the Community Police Relations Act (CPRA), which prioritize the safety of Providence residents and further prohibit voluntary collaboration between Providence Police and federal immigration authorities. Read the full draft of the proposed changes here.
After being voted out of the Committee on Ordinances with a recommendation to pass on Monday, councilors will vote for the first time on proposed updates to the city’s entertainment regulations to expand opportunities for local artists, businesses, and neighborhoods. The updates ensure the law fairly reflects the current needs and realities of Providence’s vibrant entertainment landscape for the shared benefit of businesses, residents, and the city. The amendments were described in a press release on Monday, which can be found here.
In response to environmental and noise concerns, councilors will also consider second passage of an ordinance, introduced by Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3), banning the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Providence. City departments would eliminate their usage by 2028, with a total ban within city limits by 2033.
Immediately after the council meeting, President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo will host a Veterans’ Day event featuring a speaking program and local resources available to veterans.
Other notable items being introduced on Thursday include:
- An ordinance introduced by President Pro Tempore Juan M. Pichardo (Ward 9) mandating that property owners be alerted when deeds are altered in light of scams seen nationally.
- An ordinance amendment, introduced by Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), that updates design standards for new developments guided by the Comprehensive Plan and input from an ad hoc design review committee.
- A resolution introduced by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) honoring community leader Eugenio Fernandez for his service to healthcare in Providence.
- A resolution introduced by Councilman Oscar Vargas (Ward 15) requesting improved access to overnight parking passes.
- A resolution introduced by Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) requesting a review of curb cuts for city-created accessible street parking.
by Council Staff | Sep 18, 2025 | Add Council Logo, Althea Graves, Council News, Housing, Jim Taylor, Jo-Ann Ryan, Mary Kay Harris, Press Release, Rachel Miller, Shelley Peterson
At tonight’s meeting of the Providence City Council, councilors formally received the Housing Crisis Task Force 2025 Report, a deeply-researched legislative blueprint for addressing the city’s housing affordability crisis. Also at tonight’s meeting, councilors granted the first of two required passages to an ordinance which would authorize the financing, purchase, and distribution of new residential trash and recycling bins for the entire city.
The Housing Crisis Task Force (HCTF) has worked for the past two years to develop and recommend a wide range of legislative solutions available to the city council to take on the city’s worsening housing challenges from every possible angle: by expanding housing supply, better regulating an out-of-control rental market, strengthening tenant protections, and expanding emergency shelters and homelessness support services.
“The Housing Crisis Task Force, under the leadership of Chairwoman Mary Kay Harris, has shown real courage where others have been unwilling or unable to commit to action,” said City Council President Rachel Miller. “This council will be prioritizing consideration of the recommendations contained in this report – many of which we have already begun to address, with more to come. Our city’s residents, and our renters in particular, have been demanding relief. Now we have our playbook, and we are ready to act.”
Since the beginning of this city council’s term in January 2023, Council President Miller and members of the city council have repeatedly named housing as their highest priority policy area, with a particular emphasis on increasing protections for the city’s renters.
From banning predatory, price-fixing rental algorithms and limiting the bulk purchase of property throughout the city by out-of-state corporate interests, to expanding support for emergency warming centers and investing millions into the affordable housing trust, this city council has led the way with creative and urgently needed solutions. The HCTF report gives councilors the tools they need to continue that leadership in the months ahead.
In a statement following the panel’s vote to finalize the report earlier this week, Chairwoman Harris expressed gratitude for her fellow Task Force members and urged immediate action:
“This report lays out a bold vision for housing in our city, which is exactly what this moment demands. I could not be prouder of my colleagues on the Task Force and our incredible staff who have spent countless hours listening to residents, researching solutions, and determining the best ways for this council to address the overlapping crises of homelessness and housing affordability that we all see and feel each day. The time to act is right now.”
Also at tonight’s meeting, councilors granted first passage to an ordinance introduced by Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8) that, if granted second and final passage, would approve the financing of $5.5 million to purchase new trash and recycling bins across the city. Replacing bins citywide with new, more modern, and larger receptacles will support public health and safety by reducing overflow and minimizing recycling contamination. The new bins will also save personnel hours and resources currently being spent on repair and replacement of the current, aging bins, saving the city money over the longer term and ensuring smoother curbside pick-up across all 15 wards. The idea for this ordinance was first proposed by the Special Commission on Waste Management chaired by Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5).
Other notable items from tonight’s meeting include:
- Introduction of an ordinance by Councilwoman Althea Graves (Ward 12) which would allow councilmembers to more effectively address hazardous trees across the city.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Shelley Peterson (Ward 14) congratulating the faculty, staff, students, and families of E-Cubed Academy for placing in the top five high schools statewide for reductions in chronic absenteeism.
- Unanimous passage of a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Peterson recognizing Ward 14 resident Laura Afonso for her contributions to the Providence small business community.
