by Abigail Appel | May 14, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
I am appalled by the senseless acts of violence that took place on Carolina Avenue last night which left nine people injured and terrorized the local community.
Gun violence has plagued our City for far too long and I remain committed to working with my Council colleagues, Mayor Elorza’s administration, and community partners to put a stop to the cycle of violence that is being perpetuated on our City streets.
I am praying for the Washington Park neighborhood and the recovery of those who were injured. I extend my gratitude to the Providence Police Department for their diligent work as this investigation continues.
Pedro Espinal
President Pro Tempore, Providence City Council
Councilman, Ward 10
by Abigail Appel | May 10, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-2, Ward-3
At last Thursday’s City Council meeting, the Council passed a resolution endorsing and urging the passage by the General Assembly of House Resolution 2021 H-5250, creating a special legislative commission to study ensuring racial equity and optimizing health and safety laws affecting marginalized individuals. This commission would specifically work to examine sex workers in the State of Rhode Island and their access to vital health, safety and legal resources.
The Council’s resolution was introduced by Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12) and co-sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13) and Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
“I am proud to support COYOTE RI and all the advocates who are working tirelessly to pass good policy that would provide our State with information on the impacts of the sex industry. The reality is, legalized or not, sex work continues to exist in Rhode Island and without regulation and research, people who engage in sex work, particularly women, are left without a safe network to report assaults or other issues that may arise from the job. I hope the State will consider passing this bill with the full support of the Providence City Council,” stated Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12).
In a Rhode Island sex work study conducted by COYOTE RI and Brown University, 77 percent of respondents reported they had never tried reporting a crime while working in the sex industry and, of this group, 27 percent did not report because they did not think the police would do anything, while 32 percent did not report because they did not want to draw attention to themselves. For workers that did file a report, 4 percent were arrested while trying to report a crime, and 26 percent reported being threatened by the police when trying to file a report.
“We need to re-examine how laws around commercial sex are harming the people they are supposed to protect. Criminalization creates the perfect playground for bad actors and police to prey on sex workers with impunity,” added Bella Robinson of COYOTE RI.
An analysis of 134 studies spanning 30 years found that sex workers in decriminalized contexts were less likely to experience physical or sexual violence from clients and were less likely to contract HIV or sexually transmitted infections. The analysis additionally found that repressive policing of sex workers, their clients, and/or sex work venues disrupted sex workers’ work environments, support networks, safety and risk reduction strategies, and access to health services and justice.
On January 29, 2021, Rhode Island State Representatives Anastasia Williams, Edith Ajello, Camille Vella-Wilkinson, Karen Alzate, Brianna Henries, and David Morales introduced HB 5250 to create a special legislative commission to study ensuring racial equity and optimizing health and safety laws affecting marginalized individuals.
Copies of the Council’s resolution in support of HB 5250 will be sent to the Providence delegation in the Rhode Island House and Senate and the Honorable Speaker of the House.
by Abigail Appel | May 5, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
I am fully opposed to any expansion of any development by Sea 3 Providence in the Port of Providence.
The industrial operations already taking place in this neighborhood have repeatedly created major threats to public health, safety and the local environment. Any economic gains presented by Sea 3’s expansion proposal are far outweighed by the risks of further polluting the Port of Providence and South Side neighborhoods.
As the Councilman to Ward 10, protecting public health, safety and quality of life remains my top priority. For this reason, I will be submitting a letter of opposition to this proposal as part of the public comment period.
Pedro Espinal
Councilman, Ward 10
President Pro Tempore, Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Apr 16, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-5, Ward-7, Ward-8
At last night’s City Council meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a change to the Providence Code of Ordinances which would require a building official to provide written notice to their City Council representative upon the issuance of a demolition permit. This ordinance was co-sponsored by Council President John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7), Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8), Councilwoman Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), and Councilor David Salvatore (Ward 14).
“Recently, a beloved building in the Fox Point neighborhood was demolished, to the surprise of myself and the local community. Not only was this demolition project an inconvenience to residents of the area, it also was at the location of the former Duck & Bunny; a landmark of the Fox Point neighborhood,” stated Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
Under current City law, building officials are not required to notify the City Council or the local neighborhood when a demolition permit has been issued. The proposal would require that written notice be given to the Council representative. This will allow for proper communication to be made between various City Departments, and ensure that residents and businesses surrounding the demolition site are made aware of the upcoming operations in their neighborhood.
“As a City, we work best when communication is open and reliable. As a City Councilman, I know I can better serve my constituents when I am aware of all developments in our Ward. Residents of any neighborhood deserve to know about major plans for construction or demolition which could affect their property, quality of life, safety or the integrity of our neighborhood. Moving forward, I hope this ordinance will encourage an open line of communication between building officials, City operations and residents,” added Councilman Goncalves.
The ordinance has been referred to the Committee on Ordinances for further review.
by Abigail Appel | Apr 14, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-7
At a special meeting of the Providence City Council, Councilman John J. Igliozzi, Esq. (Ward 7), was elected by the majority of his peers to serve as the body’s President. In addition, the Council also elected Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) as Council President Pro Tempore. Each will hold this position for the remainder of this current term which will conclude in January of 2023.
“I want to thank my colleagues for putting their support in me during this time of transition. As the longest-serving member of the Council, I want to ensure that when many of us step down in 2023 that there is not only a transfer of power but a transfer of institutional knowledge. In my capacity as Council President, I plan to work every day to ensure that the City Council continues the important work of creating a stronger and fiscally stable Providence. We are committed to advocating for new jobs, new development, affordable housing, and ensuring that the essential quality of life services that our taxpayers expect is further enhanced. I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to congratulate our outgoing Council President Sabina Matos, who today was approved by the Rhode Island Senate to serve as our State’s next Lieutenant Governor. We wish her well and are grateful for her service to the Council,” stated Council President Igliozzi.
During his time on the Council, President Igliozzi has been laser-focused on the myriad of fiscal issues that Providence has faced and has worked to improve his residents’ everyday quality of life. He has served as the Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Finance since 2007 and has been a staunch advocate for tax and pension reform – both before and during his time as Chairman. He has also served as a member of several committees and commissions during his more than two decades-long tenure.
Council President Igliozzi has represented the Hartford and Silver Lake neighborhoods of Providence since 1997. He is a lifelong resident of Silver Lake and is deeply entrenched in his community. During his time in public service, he has spearheaded and allocated funding for several major community infrastructure and quality of life enhancements for the residents of Ward 7. These projects include thousands of initiatives from roads, sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, and two new schools. He was instrumental in bringing Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Elementary School, a highly ranked charter school, to the Silver Lake neighborhood. President Igliozzi has also made significant investments in community resources such as the Reading Express Library at the Silver Lake Community Center, neighborhood water parks, playgrounds, the first skateboard park in Providence, and the soccer field’s modernization at Merino Park – now home to the Capitol Youth Soccer League.
In his professional life, Council President Igliozzi is an attorney. His family has a long history of public service, beginning with his late father Vincent, who served as Chairman of the 7th Ward Committee, his late mother Dolores, who served on the Rhode Island State Democratic Committee, his sister Angelica, and his brother and former Councilman, Judge David Igliozzi. He is the proud father of two sons, both of whom still live in the same Silver Lake neighborhood where President Igliozzi grew up.
The Council also elected Councilman Pedro Espinal as Council President Pro Tempore. The President Pro Tempore serves as acting President in the absence of the Council President.
“I am honored that my colleagues have entrusted me to carry out this new role. The Council is at an inflection point, and there is much to be done. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of not only my community but for all the residents of Providence. We have endured so much in the past year, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am committed to working together with my Council colleagues to address the many issues our City is facing – from getting our residents vaccinated, making affordable housing a priority, and working to end food insecurity in our City. As Councilors, we are often the ones that our residents reach out to when they need help, and many of those requests are quality of life of issues. Together this body will address the most pressing needs of our residents, and I look forward to the work ahead,” stated Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal.
President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal was elected in 2019 to serve the South Providence and Washington Park neighborhoods of Providence. Pro Tem Espinal has been an advocate for his residents. In his tenure on the Council, he has spearheaded several important pieces of legislation to ensure green and vital initiatives in the Port of Providence, amongst other quality of life issues. He has been a resident of Providence since 1978 and lives in the Washington Park neighborhood with his family.
Also, Council President Igliozzi has named City Treasurer James Lombardi III, Esq., CPA, to serve as the Acting Chief of Staff of the Providence City Council. In addition to his role as City Treasurer, Mr. Lombardi will manage the City Council staff and departments’ day-to-day operations. In addition to the Council’s administrative office, the City Council oversees the Treasury Department, Office of the Internal Auditor, Probate Court, Municipal Court, Providence City Archives, and the City Clerks Department.
by Abigail Appel | Mar 18, 2021 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-13, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a resolution supporting Rhode Island House Bills 2021 H-5674, H-6074, H-5595, and Senate Bills 2021 S-0219, S-0468, and S-0540, known collectively as the Rescue Rhode Island Act. This resolution was co-sponsored by Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Councilman Michael Correia (Ward 6), Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Councilman John J. Igliozzi Esq., Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), and Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8).
“We urge our elected representatives in the Rhode Island General Assembly and Senate to support and pass the Rescue Rhode Island Act. This initiative takes bold action to address a myriad of issues facing our State, from housing insecurity to sustainable food systems and climate justice. ” stated Councilman John Goncalves.
The Rescue, Rhode Island Act focuses on three main areas of concern. The first concern is the expansion of green and affordable housing construction. The Rescue, Rhode Island Act would allocate funding towards the construction of high quality, energy-efficient, affordable housing through the Housing Jobs Construction Program, which would also provide job training programs in energy-efficient construction and solar panel installation.
The second focus is the support of locally sourced food production. The legislation would assist in developing a reliable food production system in the State of Rhode Island.
“The Rescue Rhode Island Act takes progressive steps to move Rhode Island into a new era of green jobs, sustainable, affordable living, and a return to embracing local food systems. We have the technology, and we have the ability to make our State’s practices more environmentally friendly, so it is time for us to take the necessary steps in government to allow these exciting changes to happen,” added Councilman Goncalves.
Finally, the Rescue Rhode Island Act’s third focus is the creation of Green Justice Zones in Washington Park and the South Side of Providence. These Green Justice Zones would receive funding for projects such as the replacement of lead pipes. Within Green Justice Zones, polluting facilities would be more strictly regulated, and new polluting facilities would not be allowed to move into the area. Washington Park and the South Side of Providence are regions of the City that have been significantly impacted by air, water, and soil pollution. The outcomes of this pollution include disproportionate rates of childhood asthma and increased risks of environmental hazards.
“Changes must be made to protect the residents and the Washington Park and South Side neighborhoods’ ecosystem. The ongoing pollution only deepens the inequities in health and economic outcomes in the City of Providence. It is time that we put Rhode Islanders first and make meaningful change to improve the future of our State, but also to improve the everyday lives of those residing in areas that are prone to excessive, harmful pollution,” added Councilman Pedro Espinal.
The resolution has been sent to the Special Committee on State and Legislative Affairs.
