by Abigail Appel | Sep 9, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
I am deeply concerned about the recent allegations of contaminated soil being used in the construction of the 6-10 Connector in Olneyville. This breech of public health and safety puts workers, public safety officials, and residents at risk.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified; socio-economic status and health outcomes are deeply connected.
Any development or construction projects should be conducted with utmost attention to public health and safety. Actions taken to bring truckloads of contaminated soil into Olneyville have done the opposite, and have endangered a neighborhood that is already at-risk.
I am calling on RIDOT and RIDEM to remedy this public health hazard as quickly as possible and that they work towards addressing this type of preventable danger on all future projects.
The City of Providence will not accept anything less than the highest standards of professionalism and care from any party looking to perform, or performing work, in our neighborhoods.
Sabina Matos
Council President
Councilwoman-Ward 15
Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Sep 8, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-9
At the September 3 City Council Meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) introduced several resolutions with City Council colleagues regarding the start of the new school year, school improvements and COVID-19 preparedness within Providence schools.
“As we approach the 2020-2021 school year, it is crucial that we take all considerations to build a safe and productive school year. I commend and applaud the hard work of the Department of Education, Commissioner Infante-Green, Superintendent Peters and the Department of Health, and offer these resolutions as simply suggestions to further ensure these goals are met,” stated Councilman Goncalves.
The first resolution encourages Providence residents to vote “Yes” on the November ballot referendum to approve a $40 million bond for school improvements in Providence. These improvements would include construction, renovation, landscaping, furnishing and equipping Providence schools and school facilities throughout the City.
This resolution is co-sponsored by Council President Matos (Ward 15), Council President Pro Tempore Correia (Ward 6), Councilwoman Anthony (Ward 2), Councilwoman Castillo (Ward 9), Councilman Espinal (Ward 10), Finance Chairman Igliozzi (Ward 7), Councilwoman Kerwin (Ward 12), Councilor Miller (Ward 13), Councilor Salvatore (Ward 14) and Councilman Narducci (Ward 4).
Council President Matos stated, “While we should prioritize the warmth, safety, and security of our learning spaces for our youth, we should also invest into projects that inspire learning and instill a sense of pride in students about the spaces they spend most of their days in. Voting yes on this ballot referendum would help provide us the flexibility we need to work towards transforming our schools both academically and structurally into investments we can be proud of.”
As plans are made to begin the new school year, the possibility remains that students will be returning to in person learning for at least some of the school year. This means that the physical state of Providence school buildings remain a timely and important concern.
The second resolution proposed by Councilman Goncalves requests that the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) ensure that every Providence Public School has a trained nurse available on site during the day.
“As in-person learning resumes, at a time when public health is so important, it is imperative that a trained nurse or substitute nurse in every building be made available to all Providence students. This will further protect the health of Providence children, their families and surrounding communities,” added Councilman Goncalves.
The next resolution suggests that the RIDE and Providence Public Schools provide a remote learning best practices workshop for parents, through whichever means they see fit. This resolution has been co-sponsored by Council President Matos, Council President Pro Tempore Corriea, Councilor Anthony, Councilor Castillo, Councilor Miller, Councilor Narducci, Councilor Kerwin and Councilor Salvatore.
“So many parents have suddenly had to become teachers as they help their children navigate distance learning. Feedback has indicated that many parents would like to learn more about what they can do at home to provide the best possible learning environment for their children,” continued Councilman Goncalves.
“With the possibility that schools may be relying on distance learning for part of the school year, this type of training would help to mitigate absenteeism and provide parents with some assurance as families adjust to this change,” stated Councilor Anthony.
The final resolution recommends that RIDE utilize disaggregate data in their school operations decision making. While the current guidelines call for broad municipal data in which any city or town with more than 100 positive cases per 100,000 residents cannot move to a full in-person reopening, disaggregate data captures community spread of COVID-19 more closely by pinpointing data within certain subsets of the populations such as race, ethnicity and zip code.
“We have all learned that data and science is crucial when it comes to combating COVID-19. I have 100% confidence in our Governor, Department of Health and Department of Education and the five metric methodology for a safe reopening in person, and this is simply a recommendation to look at our municipal readiness in a more granular way. Since COVID zip code data is readily available, looking at zip codes, race and ethnicity to guide school operation decisions could ensure a safe and equitable return to school, specifically among communities of color and zip codes that have been disproportionately impacted,” stated Councilman Goncalves.
“Communities of color and lower income communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 within the City of Providence. This disaggregate data would provide a deeper understanding of the risks involved with returning to school within these specific communities and zip codes’ ‘ stated Finance Chariman Igliozzi.
Council President Matos added, “It’s extremely important that we as the City Council continue to advocate for reform and transformation in our schools: whether it be for better family engagement or basic personnel such as a school nurse. I’m proud to have partnered with Councilman Goncalves and my Council Colleagues in bringing forth these resolutions to keep our kids and families safe.”
Upon passage, these resolutions will be transmitted to the Honorable Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Mayor of Providence, the Superintendent of the Providence Public School District, and the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the State of Rhode Island.
by Abigail Appel | Sep 8, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-6
City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) will introduce a resolution at tonight’s City Council meeting calling on the City Solicitor’s office to reconvene the Providence Nuisance Task Force. The Task Force was initially established to identify and address nuisance properties in the City systematically and collaboratively and has been dormant due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We must address quality of life issues in our City, even as we are dealing with the continued economic crisis due to the ongoing pandemic,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “We have to address the issues that our residents are bringing to our attention every day. The Council Office has received hundreds of calls from residents expressing their concerns about the increase in nuisance properties, illegal dumping, overgrown vacant parcels, rat infestations, all of which has been exasperated by the furloughs in our Department of Public works.”
The Nuisance Task Force is comprised of representatives from the City Solicitor’s office, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Department of Inspection and Standards, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office. They are tasked with resolving current and long-standing nuisance properties throughout the City to protect the health and well-being of residents.
Council President Matos continued, “We have an obligation to our residents to ensure their health, well-being, and that we are addressing these neighborhood issues and concerns head-on. Reconvening the task force will go a long way to addressing some of these more pressing issues.”
In addition to this resolution, Council President Matos and President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6) will be introducing a resolution requesting the Department of Public Works to increase street-sweeping efforts across the City.
“Our streets are a mess, and we have the ability to do more street sweeping than we currently are,” stated City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “Due to the reduced workforce in the Department of Public Works, we have falling behind on our efforts to maintain our streets.”
There has been a noticeable increase in trash and rodent activity on City streets due to the lack of more frequent sweeping. Failure to sweep the City’s streets also poses a significant threat to the environment as the accumulated dirt and debris, and other contaminants can be washed from the streets directly into neighborhood waterways creating water pollution not just for the City but the State.
The resolution requests that the Department of Public Works immediately begin street-sweeping efforts throughout the City and, if necessary, hire a third-party contractor to help expedite the process of sweeping every City street.
by Abigail Appel | Sep 8, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-4
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4) will introduce a resolution recognizing Officer Jose Deschamps of the Providence Police Department.
On August 13, Officer Jose Deschamps was responding to a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of Narragansett Avenue and New York Avenue. After arriving on the scene, Officer Deschamps was approached by a man seeking assistance with an unresponsive child and provided lifesaving CPR, which helped stabilize the 8-month-old boy.
“As a parent, I can only imagine the distress that family was feeling at that moment,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “Officer Deschamps acted swiftly and bravely and gave this 8-month old child a second chance at life.”
In addition to the resolution honoring Officer Deschamps, the City Council will be awarding him the Council’s Municipal Medal for Deeds of Bravery for his exemplary conduct in the line of duty. The ceremony will take place before the next City Council meeting.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. shared, “Our City has one of the best Police Departments in the nation, and this is just another example of the exemplary work that our officers do every day. What Officer Deschamps did for that family is beyond words. He saved their child’s life. As a father and grandfather, I know how grateful the family must be, and we are also grateful. I hope that this recognition will serve as a reminder of how important and vital our men and women of the Providence Police Department are to the fabric of our City.”
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 Billy Kepner | Aug 21, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
Our City has suffered five homicides in the last two weeks alone.
In the throes of a global pandemic, as we as a City wrestle with the resulting economic fallout, and as we as a nation confront centuries of systemic racism, we are witnessing widespread frustration manifesting itself in many ways.
Cities all across the country are experiencing a spike in homicides indicative of deeper-rooted issues that have led some to turn to senseless violence.
There isn’t a single agency, organization, elected official, or municipal department that can quell this surge alone.
The remedy will require a community-wide response that holistically addresses the causes and not the symptoms.
We must support our diversion programs and non-violence advocates like our City partners at the Nonviolence Institute. We must continue to work towards increasing the affordable housing stock in our City, so no parent turns to desperation to pay their rent. We must strictly adhere to mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines to help fully reopen our economy as soon as possible and get our community members back to work. We must fully commit to a long-term school turnaround plan if we want to provide our youth with new pathways for success. We must support legislation that reduces the number of firearms that end up on our streets.
We must do everything possible to pull in our most at-risk community members and instill in them a sense of purpose and dignity and not push them away when they need us most.
Violence is the manifestation of lack of resources in our community and a sad reminder that we are all connected and like the virus, requires that all of us take part in the process to eliminate it.
Sabina Matos
President-Providence City Council
Councilwoman-Ward 15
