by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
The City Council voted this evening to pass a change to the Code of Ordinances, giving authority to the Providence Redevelopment Agency (PRA) to borrow up to $20-Millon to capitalize the Providence Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Fund). The Council’s Committee on Ordinances, chaired by Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), moved for full council approval of the amendment to the Code of Ordinances at their meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.
“The City Council is making a historic and meaningful commitment to addressing the shortage of affordable housing,” stated Majority Leader Ryan. “The Fund was created by the City Council in 2019, in collaboration with its affordable housing partners, earmarking 10% of all TSA payments to provide the basis for the Fund. The $20 Million is anticipated to make up to 1,500 affordable homes possible in the next three years for Providence residents. The Fund is intended to provide critically needed gap financing to encourage the production, preservation, and protection of affordable housing. I want to thank Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, my fellow committee members, our affordable housing partners, City finance teams, and Council colleagues past and present for their hard work on this important topic.”
“Affordable housing is a basic human right,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). “I have been working on equity in housing for far too long, and this is the first major investment that I have seen made to address the issue in our City. I want to thank my Council colleagues for supporting this measure and their steadfast dedication to ensuring that we do all we can to address this pressing need. During the Fane Tower hearings, many residents spoke up and spoke loudly about the need for affordable housing, and I heard them. As we live through this pandemic, where so many are out of work, and where housing insecurity is coming into full focus, I am beyond proud that this body has acted and can take such a monumental step for our residents.”
The change to the Code of Ordinances approves the Providence Redevelopment Agency (PRA) to seek a bond of up to $20 Million to capitalize the Council’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Fund, created in 2019, is an important City Council initiative that ensures that developers seeking tax relief are also investing in the City through their Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs). These agreements provide a structured tax phase-in for large scale development in the City and include specific clauses whereby the developer must invest into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and meet a host of other obligations. Ten percent of the TSA’s total estimated value must be deposited into The Fund, which is managed by the PRA.
City Council President Sabina Matos stated, “TSAs are an integral part of growing our City and our tax base. Yet, it is imperative that developers also invest in the community. When we created the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, we did so to ensure that our investors were putting skin in the game and that we were creating a dedicated funding stream to create much needed affordable housing units in Providence. By moving forward with this ordinance to allow capitalization of The Fund, we will be able to do just that. I want to thank Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris for her tenacity in shepherding this important legislation through the Council.”
The additional bond funding could allow for nearly 1,500 affordable housing units to be added to the City’s housing stock. The PRA will mandate that all rental units created through this program be rented at 80 percent or less than the area median income (AMI) and no more than 120 percent of the AMI for multi-family homes. This funding is intended to be used as gap dollars to help fulfill the needs of developers and our housing partners, like local Community Development Corporations, to achieve their goal of creating affordable housing units throughout Providence.
Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins of One Neighborhood Builders stated, “Housing stability is the greatest economic challenge our residents face. Now more than ever, we need to ensure families and residents, despite their income, have access to safe, quality housing they can afford. Affordable housing promotes neighborhood stability and enables families and residents to thrive.”
“We are excited to see the City taking such an important step to support the production of much-needed affordable housing in Providence,” said Carol Ventura, Executive Director of RIHousing. “Many funding programs are over-subscribed, leaving developers searching for additional funds to close the gap and move projects forward. This new funding stream will be critical to creating and preserving affordable homes, spurring economic activity and creating jobs.”
This change to the Code of Ordinances will dramatically impact the community and our ability as a City to ensure that affordable housing can be developed and that residents can live and work in Providence without being house burdened.
by Abigail Appel | Oct 1, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-13, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-8
At tomorrow’s City Council Meeting, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) will propose a resolution requesting that Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Providence Board of Licenses create a payment plan option for restaurants and bars looking to renew their liquor licenses for 2021. The resolution is co-sponsored by President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), and Councilors Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Rachel Miller (Ward 13), James Taylor (Ward 8), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), and John Goncalves (Ward 1).
On the first of December each year, any restaurant or bar in the City of Providence with an existing liquor license must apply for a license renewal. This process can cost up to $3,000.00 and is overseen by the Board of Licenses. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upset the economy, this large fee could significantly strain many struggling restaurants and bar owners.
“Providence is home to some of the best restaurants in the region. We have seen several restaurants that have had to close their businesses due to the ongoing pandemic. The trickle-down effect of those closures means residents have lost jobs, owners have lost their livelihoods, and in many cases, their dreams. Further, when a business closes, it creates losses in tax revenue for the City. We need to do what we can to support them. Our city is a destination because of our unique and diverse culinary and bar scene. As City leaders, we need to do whatever we can to ease the financial burdens that they are currently facing. I want to thank Brendan McCaughey, who brought this to our attention, and worked with Council Staff to better understand the needs of our license holders,” stated Council President Matos.
“The City of Providence must follow in the footsteps of our neighbors in Warwick and Pawtucket,” stated Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “A liquor license is an integral part of any restaurant or bar operation. As business owners struggle to comply with new guidelines and grapple with financial loss, we must provide avenues for them to remain operational and on sound footing. A phased payment plan will surely help.”
In response to similar challenges, the Cities of Warwick and Pawtucket have already enacted similar plans, allowing license holders to adopt payment plans rather than paying all at once. While the cost will remain the same, this payment plan method aims to make the renewal fee easier to bear.
“It is critical that we take immediate action to support struggling restaurant and bar owners and do what we can to help them remain operational and fluid. This pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives, and our small business community – including restaurants and bars – have been hit hard. The livelihood of many depend on this relief,” stated Councilor Rachel Miller.
Brendan McCaughey, the owner of Nolan’s Pub, stated, “I would like to thank the City Council, in particular, Councilwomen Matos and Miller, for their swift attention to this matter. As the weather turns cold and outdoor seating becomes impractical, many bar and restaurant owners are concerned about how to financially survive the winter. I think I speak for all of my fellow license holders when I say that any payment relief from the City’s license renewal fees will be a tremendous help at a time when some of us desperately need it.”
Upon passage, copies of this resolution will be sent to Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Providence Board of Licenses.
by Abigail Appel | Sep 8, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Brandon Ebert and the whole Johnson and Wales Community. Brandon’s life was tragically cut short in a hit-and-run accident early this morning.
This intersection at Narragansett Boulevard and Washington Avenue has long been an issue in our community, and after this tragic event we can no longer ignore the need for safety enhancements.
I will immediately be requesting the Department of Public Works to install a crosswalk with a pedestrian crossing light, and am demanding that the speed limit be lowered from 35 to 25 MPH at this problematic intersection.
None of these actions will bring back the life of Brandon Ebert, but it is my sincere hope that we can avoid another senseless tragedy in the future.
If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the non-emergency police line at 401-272-1111.
Pedro Espinal
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 10
by Billy Kepner | Sep 4, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10
In February of this year, there was a proposal for a waste facility on Allens Avenue that would have been able to accept, process, and haul 2,500 tons of construction and commercial waste per day. This would have caused an increase in industrial traffic and would have undoubtedly caused more pollution along Allens and Thurbers Avenues. This is in an area that is already considered a “frontline community” by the City of Providence’s recently published Climate Justice Plan and also has some of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the nation.
I, along with invested community partners and neighbors, testified before the City’s Planning Commission against the requested zoning variance for the site. After hearing from concerned residents, the petitioner decided to pull their zoning request for this property. To ensure that no other waste facility would be considered for this site or any site in Providence, I introduced an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance in May that would eliminate any new incinerators or waste facilities from being able to open in the City of Providence.
Last night, the City Council unanimously voted and passed for the second and final time this significant environmental change to our City’s Zoning Ordinance. As a Councilor, it has never been my intention to stand in the way of bringing new businesses to our City. However, I believe that these types of industries would only serve to harm our residents and create more air and water pollution in Providence.
There is no viable place for such facilities in a city as densely populated as ours, and by removing this from our Zoning Code, we have ensured the health and safety of our residents.
I want to extend my thanks to my community members, the City Plan Commission, my fellow Council colleagues and fellow elected officials, and community groups who helped make this change a reality. As we face a changing climate, we have to do everything we can to protect our environment.
Pedro Espinal
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 10
by Abigail Appel | Aug 26, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
The Department of Public Works is classified as an essential city department and for good reason. The hard work this department performs everyday to keep our streets and sidewalks in good shape, keep trash off of our streets, and our environment safe is vital to the operation of a healthy and prosperous city.
However, this summer we’ve experienced a rampant decline in the quality and frequency of these services due to DPW workers being put on furlough one and two days a week. This decline is of no fault of our hardworking men and women in the DPW, but of the circumstances we are facing due to the above mentioned furloughs.
While we understand that the city must find cost-saving measures to preserve the short-term financial stability of the city, we do not think those savings should come at the price of allowing our city to decline into a hazardous eyesore. Graffiti, illegal dumping, rat infestations have become a serious threat this summer to our residents’ quality of life.
Not only are these issues dangerous to our individual and collective health, but they also affect the community’s self-esteem and pride in their neighborhoods and invite further vandalism and destruction.
This is why we, the undersigned, are requesting that the administration end furlough days for workers in the City’s Department of Public Workers and that we wrap our arms around these exponentially growing issues before they get too out of control. We ask that you join us in asking the administration to bring back our essential workers in the DPW by signing the below petition so that we can restore these necessary services in our community.
Sabina Matos, City Council President, Ward 15
Michael Correia, City Council President Pro Tempore, Ward 6
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader, Ward 5
John J. Igliozzi, Esq., Majority Whip, Ward 7
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader, Ward 4
Mary Kay Harris, Deputy Majority Leader, Ward 11
Carmen Castillo, Councilwoman, Ward 9
David Salvatore, Councilor, Ward 14
Nirva Lafortune, Councilwoman, Ward 3
Helen Anthony, Esq., Councilwoman, Ward 2
Kat Kerwin, Councilor, Ward 12
James Taylor, Councilman, Ward 8
Pedro Espinal, Councilman, Ward 10
John Goncalves, Councilman, Ward 1
by Abigail Appel | Aug 20, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-14, Ward-3, Ward-6
Several years ago, the City of Providence asked taxpayers to borrow $40 million to repave some of our worst roads. Included in the road improvement program was Admiral Street, which was repaved by the City of Providence. In short order, National Grid completely destroyed the street. I have been asking politely for years that National Grid fix the street that they have torn up repeatedly.
If this were a City issue, I would have had it fixed the day it happened. National Grid has an obligation to fix this street, and after years of me asking and demanding, they must comply.
When the City Council returns in September, I will be introducing a resolution demanding that the City of Providence cease issuing National Grid permits to conduct work on our streets until they repair the damage they have caused.
Per their permit agreement with the City, National Grid is required to return streets that are opened to their original composition. Admiral Street was newly repaved when they first began the work there, and I expect nothing less than a curb to curb complete re-pavement from beginning to end.
David A. Salvatore
Providence City Council
Councilor – Ward 14
