Providence City Council to Limit the Jurisdiction of the Housing Court as it Pertains to Receiverships
The City Council passed for the second and final time passed an Ordinance that would limit the Providence Housing Court’s jurisdiction pertaining to receiverships. The ordinance was introduced by Councilor Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), and Councilors Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), and John Goncalves (Ward 1).
The receivership program was initially started to address blighted and neglected properties throughout the City of Providence. However, in the years since that implementation private entities have begun to use the program as a way to displace homeowners and cause further inequities in our housing market.
“As councilors, it is our duty to protect our neighbors from predatory private interests whose goal is to profit off of those most vulnerable in our community. I am proud that our Council is taking a stand and refusing to allow these interests from taking homes away from hard-working residents, and I hope the state will follow suit and pass legislation that prevents this same predatory behavior in Superior Court,” stated Councilor Katherine Kerwin
This ordinance addresses the Providence Housing Court’s authority to hear receivership cases by limiting the Court’s jurisdiction to only those that have been filed by the City of Providence or the Providence Redevelopment Agency. Private actors such as abutter’s and non-profits will still have the opportunity to pursue receivership cases; however, they will now be required to utilize the Rhode Island Superior Court to do so. Receivership cases in the housing context may be filed pursuant to Rhode Island General Law §34-44, the Abandoned Property Act, and it is this state law procedure that allows private actors to petition abandoned properties into receivership for purposes of rehabilitation. This ordinance will ensure that the Providence Housing Court’s review of receivership cases will only occur in instances where the City of Providence or the Providence Redevelopment Agency have deemed it necessary to pursue such an action.
“I would like to applaud Councilwoman Kerwin for her swift action and attention to this matter. Her advocacy and determination are what public service is all about. During our Committee on Ordinances meeting on this matter, we had a robust and productive discussion about how we preserve our housing stock and ensure that our residents are being treated fairly. I would also like to thank the City Solicitor’s office for its guidance. This ordinance is all about protecting residents from unintended abuse of the cities streamlined receivership program,” shared Majority Leader and Chairwoman on the Committee on Ordinances Jo-Ann Ryan.
The Housing Court enforces the municipal ordinances and state laws governing minimum residential requirements, lead paint abatement, zoning, and building requirements to the end that all the people in the City of Providence be housed in dwellings that are safe, sanitary, and fit for human habitation and that all structures be utilized per state and municipal lead, code, zoning, and building laws, in the belief that such enforcement will protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the City of Providence and fulfill the City’s Mission of creating and maintaining healthy neighborhoods. In fulfilling its mission, the Housing Court will seek to achieve enforcement and safeguard public health and safety without impairing property ownership.
“As elected officials, we must work to protect our residents in all ways, and this ordinance will make it the purview of the State Superior Courts to award receiverships by private entities. Our community is hurting financially because of the ongoing pandemic, and we need to act to protect our homeowners and housing stock in the City. I want to thank Councilor Kerwin for her leadership and all my colleagues who co-sponsored this important legislation,” stated Council President Sabina Matos.
Statement of Support for the Asian Community from City Council President Sabina Matos:
The violence yesterday in Georgia, where eight individuals were killed, six of whom were of Asian descent, is heartbreaking. Yet, it is a continuation of the series of attacks on Asian communities across the country since the Pandemic began.
Today, I stand with our Asian communities and pledge my support to help fight back against these ugly and vile acts of hatred.
If we are to move forward and get through this Pandemic, we must support all members of our communities and call out hate and discrimination in all forms.
Sabina Matos, President
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 15
Tonight the Providence City Council passed two resolutions, sponsored by Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), to support several initiatives before the Rhode Island General Assembly to reduce Perfluorinated and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in Rhode Island’s water supply and in food packaging in our state. The resolutions were co-sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5),Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Chairman John J. Igliozzi Esq. (Ward 7), Councilors Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), John Goncalves (Ward 1), and Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), James Taylor (Ward 8), and Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3).
The first resolution supports and urges the passage of House Bill 2021 H-5523 and Senate Bill 2021 S-107, which will require the RI Department of Health to set a Maximum Contaminant Level for PFAS and requires that our public waterways and drinking supply be sampled and monitored for PFAS contamination. The second resolution supports and urges the passage of House Bill 2021 H-5356 and Senate Bill 2021 S-0110, which eliminate the manufacture, sale, and distribution of food packaging to which PFAS have been added.
“These initiatives in our General Assembly and State Senate are significant steps in the effort to improve food and water safety in Rhode Island. PFAS are persistent chemicals that are known to cause harm to humans and the environment. It is time for the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management to take action to set standards and testing protocols to protect the health and safety of Rhode Islanders. I know that my colleagues in government trust science and believe that we should do everything we can to protect and care for the health and safety of Rhode Islanders and our environment. PFAS have been linked to cancer, developmental issues in children, problems with fertility and pregnancy, and a host of other serious health problems. That is why we must act now to reduce these harmful chemicals from our food and water,” stated Councilor Rachel Miller.
PFAS are highly persistent chemicals that have been widely used in consumer products since the 1948. They are often used in food packaging to prevent grease and other fats from sticking to the paper packaging. However, PFAS are released during production processes and remain in the environment for long periods, entering the air and bodies of water. Because of this widespread contamination, PFAS can often be found in the blood of both humans and wildlife. Over the years, concern has grown regarding the health consequences of frequent exposure to PFAS.
“One of the most precious resources we have in the State of Rhode Island is the Narragansett Bay, and we must do whatever we can to protect this natural resource. Further, PFAS that end up in our water inevitably end up in our sea life. As a state with a robust seafood industry, we have to protect and preserve the catch’s quality. Doing so will protect jobs and this important economic generator. I applaud Councilor Miller for working to ensure that we are supporting important green and healthy initiatives at the General Assembly, and I too add my voice to the chorus of my colleagues who want to see these bills pass and enacted,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan.
The resolutions passed, and copies will be sent to the Rhode Island General Assembly and the Providence Delegation.
Tonight, the Providence City Council members voted to pass a resolution urging the United States Senate to pass the Equality Act. The resolution was sponsored by Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13). It was Co-sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Majority Whip John J. Igliozzi, Esq. (Ward 7), and Councilors Helen Anthony, Esq. (Ward 2), Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), John Goncalves (Ward 1), Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Councilman James Taylor (Ward 8), and Councilman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3)
The Equality Act was introduced to the House of Representatives by Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline and in the Senate by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. It was finally passed by the United States House of Representatives in 2019 and 2021 but has died in the United States Senate committee. After the United States Supreme Court’s June 2020 ruling in the Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, which upheld protections for gay and transgender individuals in employment matters under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its subsequent amendments, now there is more support in the Senate for passage. The City Council members are urging the body to take this bold and meaningful action to codify the rights of every person living in the United States.
“First, I want to thank our Federal Delegation, especially Congressman Cicilline, who has worked doggedly on this act for the past seven years. Even as it languished in the House and Senate, he still believed that the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community were worth the battle. I am proud that he represents Rhode Island and am grateful for his leadership. The Equality Act will codify and protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, which has been missing from the Civil Rights Act for decades. The Equality Act wil also protect against discrimination in the workplace, in housing, in health care, and even in financial lending,” stated Councilor Rachel Miller.
The Equality Act will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and several other federal laws around employment and discrimination in public spaces, services, and federally funded programs.
“Former United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once stated, ‘We should not be held back from pursuing our full talents, from contributing what we could contribute to society, because we fit into a certain mold, because we belong to a group that historically has been the object of discrimination.’ With that statement, she was referring to what women have endured for generations. It is equally true for LGBTQIA+ communities that face higher rates of suicide, bullying, and the alarming rates of murder amongst transgender women. The Senate must pass the Equality Act, and I know that our Rhode Island Delegation is supportive, and I hope that we can all agree that discrimination of any kind needs to be removed from our legal system,” stated Council President Sabina Matos.
Many studies have shown that members of the LGBTQIA+ community face high levels of discrimination in housing. The bias is noted to come in many different ways: being denied housing, charged higher rents, or being removed from housing once a landlord realizes the orientation or the gender expression of the renters. Additionally, the Equality Act will add protections to LGBTQIA+ individuals living in 27 states which do not have state-wide LGBTQIA+ anti-discrimination laws.
“There are currently 27 states where, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, my right to be free from discrimination in employment, housing, and other civil protections is not protected by law. I am proud to be a member of this body that tonight took a stance for equality for all,” concluded Councilor Miller.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation. The City Council members hope that the United States Senate will pass Senate Bill 393 – The Equality Act.
I am saddened to learn of the passing of the Honorable Superior Court Judge Alton Wiley, an accomplished jurist and a man who broke down barriers.
Judge Wiley’s role as the first black judge to sit on the Rhode Island District and Superior Courts was proof that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Not only did he break barriers, but he served the State of Rhode Island for decades with integrity, intellect, and allegiance to the law.
It is public servants like him who value virtue, equality, and opportunity that make the State of Rhode Island such a wonderful place to be. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.
I extend my most sincere condolences to Judge Wiley’s family and friends and pray that his memory is a blessing to all who knew him.
Sabina Matos, President
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 15
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Have Been Announced for this week for Providence Residents 75 and Older:
Wednesday, February 17, 2021: http://bit.ly/3ajpbJi
Managed by Providence Emergency Management Agency
Friday, February 19, 2021: http://bit.ly/3aiqTdS
Managed by Aesthenis Pharmacy in partnership with the City of Providence
Saturday, February 20, 2021: http://bit.ly/3dcbGNm
Managed by Providence Emergency Management Agency
*Internet Explorer will not work with the above-provided links. Anyone who registers that is not 75+ or a resident of Providence will have their appointment cancelled. In the coming days, additional clinic dates will be added to https://www.providenceri.gov/vaccinate/.
Residents who need assistance signing up for an appointment are encouraged to dial 3-1-1 to speak with a representative who can walk you through the enrollment process in English or Spanish. Although additional staff are supporting phone lines, residents should expect longer than normal wait times as MCCS anticipates a higher than normal call volume.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Have Been Announced for this week for Providence Residents 75 and Older: