by Billy Kepner | Mar 15, 2020 | COVID-19, 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
There are 13 sites across the city where children ages 18 and younger, can access several days worth of “Grab & Go” meals (breakfast and lunch). The locations will be open from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday during the duration of the school closure.
Service lines will be located at the front entrance of each school. No families will be allowed in the buildings. Sodexo staff will hand each student pre-packaged meals. Please note that children do not need to be enrolled in the Providence Public School District to access this program. This is a change to what has been previously shared.
The 13 Sites Are:
- William D’Abate Elementary School School located at 60 Kossuth Street.
- Gilbert Stuart Middle School located at 188 Princeton Street.
- Providence Career and Technical Academy located at 41 Fricker Street.
- Mt. Pleasant High School located at 434 Mt. Pleasant Avenue.
- Reservoir Elementary School located at 156 Reservoir Avenue.
- E-Cubed Academy located at 812 Branch Avenue.
- Juanita Sanchez High School located at 182 Thurbers Avenue.
- Hope High School located at 324 Hope Street.
- DelSesto Middle School located at 152 Springfield Street.
- Vartan Gregorian Elementary School located at 455 Wickenden Street.
- Nathanael Greene Middle School located at 721 Chalkstone Avenue.
- Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School, 1450 Broad Street.
- Times2 Academy, 50 Filmore Street.
In addition, the City of Providence will be offering free, several days worth of packaged dinner meals at each of Providence’s eleven recreation centers. Meals can be picked up between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are available for those 18 and under, but they must be personally present at the distribution site.
- Vincent Brown at 438 Hope Street.
- John H. Rollins at 674 Praire Avenue.
- Madeline Rogers at 60 Camden Avenue.
- Davey Lopes at 227 Dudley Street.
- Zuccolo at 18 Gesler Street.
- Armand E. Batastini Jr. at 50 Obediah Brown Road.
- Joslin at 17 Hyatt Street.
- Neutaconkanut at 675 Plainfield Street.
- West End at 109 Bucklin Street.
- Sackett at 159 Sackett Street.
- Kennedy at 195 Nelson Street.
Please note that all childcare centers have been ordered closed by Governor Raimondo effective Monday, March 16, 2020 for at least one week. This is a change from what was originally reported.
We will update as other sites are designated for this service.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 14, 2020 | Community Engagement, 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
Dear Neighbors,
The Members of the City Council have been in constant communication with the Administration, the Providence Emergency Management Agency, the Providence School Department, and Public Safety officials to assess and ensure the safety of our residents during these trying times.
As you are aware, yesterday Governor Raimondo moved the spring vacation of all public schools in the State of Rhode Island to begin on Monday, March 16, 2020. Since that announcement, the Providence School Department has worked to put mechanisms in place to ensure that no student goes hungry.
Beginning on Tuesday, March 17, there will be eight sites across the City where Providence Public School children can access “Grab & Go” lunches for that day and breakfast for the following day. The locations will be open from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm Monday – Friday during the duration of the break, and will continue if the State decides to keep schools closed for a longer period to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Service lines will be located at the front entrance of each school. No families will be allowed in the buildings. Sodexo staff will hand each student pre-packaged meals. To qualify for meals, students must attend a Providence Public School and be personally present at the distribution site.
The Eight Sites Are:
Asa Messer Elementary School located at 1655 Westminster Street.
Gilbert Stuart Middle School located at 188 Princeton Street.
Providence Career and Technical Academy located at 41 Fricker Street.
Mt. Pleasant High School located at 434 Mt. Pleasant Avenue.
Alvarez High School located at 375 Adelaide Avenue.
E-Cubed Academy located at 812 Branch Avenue.
Juanita Sanchez High School located at 182 Thurbers Avenue.
Hope High School located at 324 Hope Street.
During this time we ask that everyone continue to practice safe hygiene by washing their hands, coughing and sneezing into their elbows, using hand sanitizer, and staying indoors and at home if feeling sick.
Every student present in Providence schools on Friday – in grades 3-12 – was sent home with a Chrome Book so that they can access online learning and other tools. Here is a great selection of sites that have waived subscription fees during this period: Online Learning
The City has implemented a 100 person rule for restaurants and bars and has closed all City buildings and many of our cultural sites to protect against the spread of the virus. Today, the City launched a website with information for residents on COVID-19 and our response: Providence COVID-19.
The City is also working with utility companies to ensure that if someone is unable to pay their bill due to lack of income, that their services will not be interrupted. As we know more about these programs we will share them in later updates.
As of now, we are awaiting direction from the Attorney General’s Office regarding public attendance at the City Council meeting on Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 pm. Due to the advice of the Rhode Island Department of Health and the City to implement “social-distancing” we encourage you to watch the meeting on our YouTube Channel or Facebook Page where it will be livestreamed.
For more information on what you should do if you feel that you may have contracted COVID-19, or come into contact with someone that could potentially have COVID-19 please visit the Rhode Island Health Department’s website or by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 401-222-8022.
Sincerely,
City Council President Sabina Matos and the Members of the Providence City Council
by Billy Kepner | Mar 10, 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 Providence City Council unveils updated website honoring our long and storied history
centered on our neighborhoods and community engagement
Today, the City Council unveils an updated user-centric website and a rebrand of its communications that pays homage to the City’s storied and diverse neighborhoods.
Council President Matos stated, “Providence residents love and are proud to represent the neighborhoods they come from. The rich history of our city could not exist without the great contributions made by generations of families who hail from every corner of this city. Wards and ward boundaries change over time. What anchors people to Providence are the memories made in settings like Federal Hill, Mt. Hope, and Washington Park. The story of our city is a story of neighborhoods.”
Providence is made up of 25 neighborhoods represented by 15 City Councilors. Those neighborhoods are Blackstone, Charles, College Hill, Downtown (Jewelry District), Elmhurst, Elmwood, Federal Hill, Fox Point, Hartford, Hope ( Summit), Lower South Providence, Manton, Mount Hope, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Reservoir, Silver Lake, Smith Hill, South Elmwood, Upper South Providence, Valley, Wanskuck, Washington Park, Wayland, and the West End.
President Matos continued, “We are extremely excited to have our neighbors interact with our new website. This new site is easier to use, navigate, and find relevant information about Councilors and meetings. Most importantly, from the landing page the site establishes a reverence for neighborhoods.”
In addition to the website, the Council will also begin livestreaming Council Meetings beginning in April on both Facebook and the Council’s YouTube Channel.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 6, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-14, Ward-15
At last night’s City Council meeting Councilors, David A. Salvatore (Ward 14) and Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) introduced a resolution creating a Special Commission on Recycling. The City of Providence spent nearly $500 thousand on rejected contaminated recycling loads in 2019.
“The Johnson Landfill is perilously close to being at capacity; in fact, it is slated to close by 2034,” stated Councilman David A. Salvatore. “The City is spending our tax dollars on avoidable costs such as rejected recycling loads at the landfill – in addition to waste removal fees. We need to come together and find solutions to address this issue, while remaining vigilant on protecting our environment. I am happy that the City Council unanimously voted in favor of creating this Special Commission, as we have too much at stake to ignore this any longer. Our City is facing many challenges, and spending unnecessary funds on rejected recycling loads is avoidable which which could be earmarked to address quality of life issues, such as sidewalk and road repairs.”
The Special Commission on Recycling will be comprised of the Director of Public Works, five appointees by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), and one appointment by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. The Special Commission is tasked with studying the current recycling process within the City and to make recommendations regarding appropriate changes to City procedures, State law, and programs aimed at educating the public on proper recycling strategies.
Councilman Pedro Espinal stated, “Bad recycling practices are rampant in Providence, and much of that has to do with education around what can and cannot be recycled. I believe that this Commission can help us formulate a plan to help educate the community, especially for those that may be new to Providence. Some cities have single-stream recycling like Providence, while other cities around the world have multi-stream recycling, accept plastic bags, Styrofoam, and other items that the Rhode Island Resource Recover Center does not accommodate. I look forward to learning what the Commission puts forth.”
The Special Commission on Recycling will be required to issue a report of findings and recommendations to the City Council 120 days after appointments are made to the Commission.
“I would like to thank Councilors Salvatore and Espinal for bringing this important matter forward,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15). “Proper recycling seems like it would be easy but there is still confusion about what can and cannot be recycled. There is a great deal of education and outreach that needs to happen, and I’m confident that the Special Commission will be able to find solutions to the challenges we face. Solutions not just for our City’s bottom line, but for the environment as well.”
For more information on recycling in Providence, please visit the City of Providence’s resource page on recycling:
Recycling in Providence by Billy Kepner | Mar 6, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-3
The Providence City Council, Mayor Jorge Elorza, SISTAfire RI, and A Sweet Creation will be hosting the Fourth Annual International Women’s Day Celebration at City Hall on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 6:00 pm.
The first International Women’s Day was organized by Councilwoman Mary-Kay Harris (Ward 11), and for the past three years, has brought together a diverse group of women, elected officials and youth groups such as A Sweet Creation Youth Organization, from across the City to celebrate and uplift women. This year, we will gather to celebrate the ‘she-roes.’
Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune said, “I am honored to carry on Councilwoman Harris’s vision in bringing women together for International Women’s Day. I’m also thrilled to be partnering with SISTAfire and other organizations to bring women in our community together to celebrate our Sheroes. The goal is to create an inclusive space where all women can reflect, share their experiences and stories of the women who inspired them. I am grateful for women like Councilwoman Harris, and the women in my life who have paved the way and inspired so many of us.”
“I’m honored to serve with my colleagues who understand how important International Women’s Day is,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “Councilwoman Harris has been and continues to be an inspiration to me, and our colleagues on the Council. Her dedication to working with the community and bringing groups together in honor of International Women’s Day is a wonderful example of the power of what women can do when we come together. I’m very excited to share in this celebration with my colleagues and would like to thank Councilwoman LaFortune for spearheading this year’s celebration. I am reminded, as women, we must take the time to acknowledge how our experiences have shaped us, and the role models who showed us how much we could achieve. I am proud to be the President of the
first majority-female City Council in Providence’s her-story, and honored to
serve side by side with a dynamic and diverse group of women and men to serve the City we love so much.”
“It is always an honor to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month with the strong and inspiring women that make our community great,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “In this moment in history, we have more women voices at the table both locally and nationally than ever before and we have seen the profound impact of their leadership. I believe that by centering these voices and experiences, we can continue to empower more generations of women and build a stronger future together.”
The City’s International Women’s Day Celebration will take place on the Third Floor of City Hall in the Alderman’s Chambers, and will incorporate vendors, group discussions, visual art, and performances and will feature Keynote speakers, Ms. Henrietta White-Holder and Ms. Marlena Rodrigues.
We want to thank our partners: SISTAfire RI, A Sweet Creation Youth Organization, Tiffany Rhule, Cesi Rivera, Gee Gee’s Southern Cuisine, Ellie’s, Sin Bakery, Plant City, and FireWorks Catering for their generous support of this wonderfully affirming event.
About International Women’sDay:
International Women’s Day – IWD (March 8) 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.
No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network, or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others. International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity.
International Women’s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for well over a century – and continues to grow from strength to strength.
Learn about the
values that guide IWD’s ethos.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 5, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-15, Ward-6, Ward-8
At tonight’s City Council meeting Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Councilors Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), and James E. Taylor (Ward 8) introduced an ordinance that would restrict commercial vehicles from parking long-term on streets or in front yards.
“I constantly hear from frustrated residents that there are large commercial trucks parked on their streets,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “I have seen it myself, and this issue is about safety. It becomes difficult for neighbors to leave their driveways because these trucks are hanging into their pathway, or they can’t see around the truck to safely back-out. This ordinance will work to address this quality of life issue, and to ensure that our neighborhood streets remain that and not parking lots for commercial vehicles.”
The ordinance defines commercial vehicles as any vehicle over 20-feet in length and over 6,500 pounds. Further, no commercial vehicle will be able to park or stand, unless engaged in the loading or off-loading of materials, for more than one hour between the hours of 9 PM and 8 AM, or at any time on Sunday on any part of the street under the jurisdiction of the City of Providence.
Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia stated, “This is just common courtesy. I understand that some folks have to take home their work vehicles, but we have to balance that with the quality of life for all of our neighbors. By and large, those individuals are parking in their driveways and are being respectful of their neighbors. The issues that I see in my neighborhood are businesses parking their trucks on the street and not moving them for days at a time. We all want to live in nice neighborhoods, and these trucks detract from that, and become obstacles to the residents who are trying to commute through their streets.”
In addition to the time restrictions, there is also a penalty levied to violators. For any person found in violation of parking on the street, blocking a sidewalk or portion of the roadway will be subject to a fine no less than $50.00. If a commercial vehicle is found to be anyway limiting, restricting, or blocking the access of public safety vehicles or remains in place with their engine idling in the course of operation shall be deemed to be a hazard to public safety and quality of life. If a vehicle is found in violation, they will be towed and subject to a fine of no less than $100.00.
“Ward 8 has a lot of commercial zones mixed with residential zones, and this is a perennial problem,” stated Councilman James E. Taylor. I am proud that we are acting to put the interest of our community before that of industry. I don’t want any businesses to suffer, but I want them to be good neighbors. It is common courtesy and an obstacle that could delay safety vehicles from reaching someone in need of serious attention. We all have a role to play in making our neighborhoods great, and that includes not just residents but our businesses as well.”
This ordinance will be referred to the committee for review and vetting before it is sent to the full Council for votes and passage.
