by Billy Kepner | Jun 18, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
Last evening, the Providence City School Board voted to ask the City Council to rename the Esek Hopkins School.
Before that discussion takes place, I believe that my community in Ward 4 should have a conversation to get their feedback and their desire to rename or not to rename the school. I am working on gathering the facts regarding the history of Esek Hopkins, while some of it is ugly, there may be evidence that he saw the gross misfortune that he was involved with and charted a different path. In addition, I have asked our City Archives to provide me with research on the other founding families of Providence, including the Brown’s.
That said, any change to the name of the school should come from robust community engagement where the school is located. The name also cannot be changed by the State or the School Department. The buildings are owned by the City of Providence.
I look forward to facilitating that conversation in the near future.
by Billy Kepner | Jun 2, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
The pain that many in our community are feeling at the senseless death of George Floyd is not only understandable but is yet another reflection of how our Country has failed our neighbors of color.
This past weekend, 100’s gathered to peacefully protest and collectively grieve the loss of Mr. Floyd without incident. What happened last night was nothing more than an orchestrated chaos that put our men and women of the Providence Police Department, and those of neighboring cities and states, in harm’s way.
I believe that we must work together to make change in our Country, but the violence that we witnessed unfold on social media in Providence last night is not the way. Those individuals are not part of the movement for equality, they were agitators meant to do harm for no reason. Destroying our City is not the way to bring about the change that we need.
Together, we can create change in a peaceful manner. I call on all of us to do better and be better. It’s the only path forward.
My thoughts today are with our small business owners who were already suffering, the family of George Floyd whose memory is being tarnished by violence, and for my neighbors who are justifiably scared of what might happen next.
Be strong, be resilient, and let’s work together.
by Billy Kepner | May 20, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
It has been brought to my attention that the Omni Providence hotel has decided to drop its health insurance for its employees. It is appalling that a major hotel chain would make this decision during the time of a global pandemic and cause further burden to its employees. In addition, it violates their own contract with the UniteHere Local 26 Union. I would urge the Omni Providence to change this course of action, and not cancel their employee’s much-needed health insurance.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Billy Kepner | May 15, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Uncategorized, Ward-4
When you started your college experience, I can’t imagine that you would have thought that it would have drawn to an end like this -classes ending abruptly, you finishing your final semester via Zoom, and having to say goodbye to the memories and friends you made over your college experience in just a few days. This is the reality that will bind each of you for years to come.
I realize that the pomp and circumstance that you have come to associate as the reward for working hard to earn your degree won’t happen this year, but that doesn’t make your accomplishments any less meaningful.
To all our residents who are graduating from college this month, I wish you well in your future endeavors. I would also remind you to look back on this time for what it was and realize that you were taught a very valuable life lesson – that sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, and we need to adjust to change quickly and adapt, and I know you did so very well!
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Billy Kepner | May 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-4
I want to echo my colleague’s concerns about tomorrow’s City scheduled property tax sale. As we have navigated through this global pandemic, City Hall has been shuttered to visitors since Friday, March 13 at 4:30 PM. Making it impossible for residents to come into the tax office to meet with the Tax Accessor to discuss any kind of mitigation or repayment plans that they may have needed.
I applaud the Administration for listening to the concerns shared by the City Council, and their willingness to postpone the sale giving residents time to make in-person visits to the Tax Collector or Accessors Office after City buildings reopen to the public in June. This will give residents time to catch-up on their payments before their next tax bills come due.
In light of the current circumstances, I think this is a sensible approach and one that puts our residents first.
Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilman – Ward 4
by Billy Kepner | May 13, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-4, Ward-6
Tonight, the City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning (URRP) passed a second round of Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) Funding to help local agencies in the fight against COVID-19.
“This evening the URRP Committee ensured that 33 Providence-based social service agencies shared in the allocation of over nearly $3 Million in funding to assist in the fight against COVID-19,” stated Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11). “The CARES Act which was passed by both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, and championed by our own federal delegation, allocated nearly $3 Billion in funds for local municipalities across the Country in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis. I am so grateful that we could help use these funds to support organizations like Meals on Wheels, DORCAS International, and Federal Hill House to name just a few. Each of these 33 organizations are doing critical work in every one of our City’s neighborhoods, and I am so proud of the work my Committee has done.”
In addition to the $3 Million in additional CDBG funding, the Committee had recently approved the allocation of more than $5 Million in CDBG funding for organizations that provide essential services in our community.
Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. stated, “It has been a difficult process to allocate this important funding to our neighborhood agencies. Each and every applicant was deserving, but with only limited resources, I believe we were able to make the most impact in our City. I thank each and every organization for their dedicated work to the residents of our City.”
Chairwoman Harris continued, “I want to thank the work of the Committee, City Council Chief of Staff Erlin Rogel, and Director of Community Development Emily Freedman of the Department of Planning and Development for their dedication and hard work in ensuring that we were able to maximize the allocation of funding for the residents of our City.”
The two CDBG budget allocations will go to the full Council for vote and passage.
For a complete list of awardees please visit the Open Meetings Portal at: https://bit.ly/URRPCommittee
