by Michael Florio | Apr 18, 2018 | Community Engagement, Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-6
The Providence City Council helped secure a location in South Providence for a carnival for children and families of that neighborhood and beyond. Family-owned Rockwell Amusements’ midway will be located between Point and Eddy Streets from April 27 to May 6.
City Councilors Michael Correia, Mary Kay Harris, and Luis A. Aponte worked with Lifespan and Rhode Island Hospital to secure a location for the carnival on a piece of hospital property located across the street from Lifespan’s Coro Center.
“As City Councilors, we know that events like carnivals are not always something that our community members can access,” stated Councilman Michael Correia (Ward 6). “We’re thrilled to be able to help find a location for this event with support from our community partner Rhode Island Hospital.”
“Rhode Island Hospital is happy to work with the Providence City Council to secure a location for the carnival in the neighborhood we share with so many residents and businesses of South Providence. My hope is that the children and families in our surrounding communities have a safe and enjoyable time,” said Margaret M. Van Bree, MHA, DrPH, president of Rhode Island Hospital.
Lifespan will also provide free parking to carnival patrons at the Coro Center garage, and a surface lot at 139 Point St. Street parking will also be available on one side of Hospital and Globe streets.
Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) shared that “we’re grateful to Lifespan for their commitment to community and for providing a location for the carnival and also offering free parking during the event.”
City councilors will be distributing bracelets to community groups in South Providence for free carnival rides.
“I want to thank our partners at Lifespan for their willingness to work with us and Rockwell Amusements in order to make this festival possible on the Southside of the city,” said Councilman Luis A. Aponte (Ward 10). “The festival will bring together families from around our community and city, and I’m grateful to Rockwell for providing free admission for many of our young people who would not otherwise be able to attend.”
Carnival hours will be from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
by Michael Florio | Mar 7, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11
Providence City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) along with the community group, SISTA FIRE RI, will be hosting a celebration in honor of International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at Noon. The event will take place in The Aldermen’s Chamber on the third floor of City Hall. Rhode Island’s Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea will serve as the keynote speaker.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with SISTA FIRE to bring the community together to celebrate International Women’s Day,” stated Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris. “Our goal is to bring women and men together for a discussion on the importance of the role women play in our society. It’s my hope that by sharing stories of our achievements and our failures that we can all learn from our unique experiences.”
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The day is celebrated annually on March 8.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 20, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11
Providence City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) will be hosting the opening reception for the City Council’s Black History Month Exhibit – Home? The Housing Struggle in Providence from 1950 through Today. The reception is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at 11:00 AM in the Third Floor Gallery of City Hall, located at 25 Dorrance Street.
The exhibit, created in partnership with the Providence City Archives, takes visitors on a journey through Providence’s continuous struggle for fair and adequate housing in the Black community. Along the way, visitors will be introduced to figures that have fought in the battle for affordable and equal housing like Andrew J. Bell, Maria Lopes, Rose Viega, Asta Tigrai, and others.
“I’ve worked for decades on issues around affordable housing,” stated Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Ward 11. “When our City Archivist, Caleb Horton, came to me with the idea to focus this year’s exhibit on the housing struggle I was thrilled. Recently I was appointed Chairwoman of the Special Committee to Study Homelessness here in Providence by Council President Salvatore, and one of my main objectives is to find ways to address – what seems to be a never-ending struggle – the need for affordable and adequate housing. This exhibit will stand as a launching point for a community conversation that I hope to have over the next 10-months.”
The City Council is pleased to share that Representative Maria Lopes, one of the figures in the fair housing movement here in Providence and featured in the exhibit, will be one of our guest speakers along with Barbara Krank, and Brenda Clement, Executive Director of HousingWorksRI.
Home? The Housing Struggle in Providence from 1950 through Today runs Monday – Friday, from 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM through March 22, 2018. A guided tour with the curator is offered every Thursday at noon through the exhibits run. The curator will also offer a tour on March 1 and March 15 at 6:30 PM. For class or private tours, please call the City Archives office at (401) 421-7740 ext. 314.
by Michael Florio | Jan 18, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-14, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-9
Council President David A. Salvatore and Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris introduced a resolution to establish the Special Committee to Study Homelessness in Providence at tonight’s City Council meeting.
“As elected representatives of the people of Providence, as well as members of this community, we have a moral obligation to help the homeless,” stated City Council President David A. Salvatore. “In order for Providence to be a truly strong city, we must ensure the protections of all people. We must enact policies that will reduce the level of homelessness in our capital City, and I am confident that this committee will work to find solutions that will end homelessness in Providence one day
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), 39% of people experiencing homelessness nationwide are female, 21% are children, and another 10% are between the ages of 18 and 24. While African-Americans are just 13% of the U.S. population, more than 40% of homeless people in the U.S. are African-American. In 2017 the number of unsheltered homeless in America increased 9.4% from 2016 to 2017.
“As an African American woman it is not lost on me that people of color and women experience homelessness at far greater levels than others in our society,” stated Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Ward 11. “I’ve worked my whole career helping people rise out of homelessness, and this opportunity to lead a committee to study and to enact change makes me very proud.”
The Special Committee to Study Homelessness will be composed of:
- Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Chair
- Councilman Nicholas Narducci Jr., Vice-Chair
- Councilwoman Carmen Castillo
- Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune
- Councilman Samuel Zurier
by Billy Kepner | Dec 26, 2017 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-14
Providence City Council calls for applications for the Providence External Review Authority (PERA) Board. To be considered, please apply with a cover letter and resume by January 20, 2018.
“We are dedicated to an open and transparent process for seating the PERA board,” stated Council President David Salvatore, Ward 14. “We want anyone who is interested in being part of this board to have an opportunity to be considered. If you or someone you know is interested, I encourage you to submit your materials as soon as possible.”
PERA board members will:
- Create and implement community outreach programs
- Review police department policies and training procedures and make recommendations for change
- Receive complaints that allege misconduct by a police officer or officers, including, but not limited to the use of excessive force, inappropriate language or conduct, harassment, theft, and discrimination
- Perform other functions as authorized by the Providence Community-Police Relations Act
“As we begin the interview process I’m humbled by those who want to serve on this very important board,” stated Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Ward 11. “As an original member of the PERA Board, I know and understand how important this is for the community. I look forward to meeting applicants and getting the board seated as soon as we can.”
To apply to sit on the PERA Board, we ask that you submit a cover letter and resume to Nick Freeman at Nfreeman@providenceri.gov no later than January 20, 2018, by 11:59 pm.
Please be advised that the seating of the PERA board does not delay the Providence Community-Police Relations Act which becomes law on January 1, 2018.
For more information, please contact the City Council office at 401-521-7477.
by Billy Kepner | May 30, 2017 | Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-5
The City Council Committee on Ordinances will tonight receive a final report from the Community Safety Act Working Group, a panel established by the Council in April tasked with resolving outstanding concerns about the proposed landmark ordinance that seeks to improve police and community relations by adopting best practices from around the country. The working group was comprised of community members, police administration and union representatives, and City solicitor, administration, and City Council representatives.
The working group’s recommendations include greater clarification of definitions used in the ordinance, improved language that eliminates confusion about intent, and language changes that ensure consistency between the ordinance and State law. The working group has also proposed changing the ordinance’s title to the Providence Community-Police Relations Act (PCPRA) to better demonstrate its intent.
“The working group’s final recommendations reflect an open, collaborative process that successfully resolved all stakeholders’ stated concerns,” said Majority Leader Bryan Principe (Ward 13), who served as the group’s chair. “Our diverse panel of stakeholders engaged in thoughtful deliberation to make friendly amendments that strengthen and clarify this important piece of legislation.”
“The working group was constructive in making necessary changes and modifications with the original version. It also presented an opportunity to make clarifications on some of the language to resolve issues,” said Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh Clements. “I stand in support of this current version.”
The group met regularly throughout the month to reach consensus on each of the ordinance’s proposed amendments. Working group members were careful not to alter the intent of the ordinance, and instead focused on improving and clarifying the language in the legislation. Each recommended amendment of the ordinance was approved unanimously by the panel.
“The working group has done an outstanding job in working through some of the former concerns about the ordinance and coming up with alternatives that we can feel confident about,” said Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), who served as a member of the working group.
“This process brought everyone together to participate in the discussion, which was beneficial for the act itself and to achieve its objective,” said Councilman Terrence Hassett (Ward 12), who chairs the Council’s Ordinance Committee and served as a member of the working group.
“This is an important piece of legislation, and the additional deliberation was time well spent,” said Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5). “I commend the working group for their diligence and working together to address unresolved issues.”
In its final form, the bill is the product of nearly three years of stakeholder engagement. Among its many provisions, the ordinance effectively prohibits racial and other forms of discriminatory profiling, mandates policies for the use of body cameras, brings much-needed reforms to the Providence Police Department’s “gang database,” and codifies policies regarding non-criminal immigration concerns.
CSA HIGHLIGHTS
- Prohibits racial and other forms of discriminatory profiling
Prevents police officers from racially profiling or otherwise discriminating against individuals based on their race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and other factors
- Establishes how police officers will document and collect data from traffic and pedestrian stops
Allows individuals stopped by the police to request and receive a report on their stop
Mandates policies for the use of body-worn cameras
Protects individuals’ rights to photograph and film the police
- Mandates greater transparency and accountability in police-community interactions
Requires officers to inform drivers of why their vehicle was stopped, sets standards for requiring information from passengers, and codifies policy on individuals driving without a license
Requires that officers inform individuals of their constitutional right to refuse before asking for consent to a search
Requires officers in uniform to wear name tags and to show their federal ID numbers
Requires officers to provide their name and federal ID number when conducting stops and searches.
Requires the Chief of Police to submit quarterly reports to Providence External Review Authority (PERA) on the data collected
- Establishes new protections for juveniles, immigrants, and transgender individuals
Establishes right of transgender individuals to be searched by an officer of their gender identity and requires Police Department to develop policies for handling those searches
Prohibits officers from inquiring about an individual’s immigration status, and requires officers to accept valid identification from foreign governments
Sets standards for dealing with individuals lacking proof of identification
Prohibits officers from photographing juveniles under most circumstances
- Improves and codifies policies for use of Gang Database
Requires the Police Department to establish policies for determining if an individual should be added to the gang database
Prohibits certain factors, such as race, from being included in the criteria for adding someone to the gang database
Requires parental notification when anyone under 18 is added to the gang database
Allows anyone over 18 to ask if they are on the gang database
Creates both an administrative removal process and a formal appeal process for people who feel they were added to the database in error.
Requires an annual audit of the gang database to identify any errors and make recommendations for improving its use
- Improves language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals
Requires the Police Department maintain its language access hotline to connect officers with qualified translators
Requires the use of qualified translators if the officer isn’t fluent in the language spoken (except in emergencies)
Mandates policies on officer fluency and defining emergencies
Requires custodial interrogations of LEP individuals be recorded
Requires vital materials be available in the five most commonly spoken languages in Providence
Councilors are expected to take a final vote on the proposed legislation at the City Council meeting on Thursday, June 1st at 7:00 pm.
