by Billy Kepner | Feb 6, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, 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
Tonight the City Council will introduce a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Michael Van Leesten, a Providence native and a pioneer in the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1960s.
Mr. Michael Van Leesten was a graduate of Hope High School, Rhode Island College, and was a veteran on the United States Airforce. Upon his graduation from Rhode Island College, he became active in the Civil Rights Movement and participated in SCLC SCOPE Project in Choctaw County, Alabama. He along with six other college students, worked doing community organizing and voter registration in rural Alabama during the height of the Civil Rights Struggle. He spoke of his time in the Movement as a “defining moment in my life,” and he believed that this singular experience made him a better person, better husband, better father, and better community leader.
“Michael Van Leesten was my friend, and a ray of inspiration and hope to many. We would talk over the phone and laugh and before we hung up he would also say ‘Nirva, I am so proud of you,’” stated Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3). “He was more than a board member, the executive director of OIC or a father, he was a community citizen, someone who was aware of and understands the broader issues that our community- and his place in the community and his role in effecting change. He was all of these things because he was a community citizen first and took an active role in his community and the people of his community. He was a bridge builder, an architect of connections and that is why it would be appropriate to name the bride after him. Like the new Pedestrian bridge he bridged gaps and created a platform for all to pass through and that gave others permission to do the same.”
Mr. Van Leesten served as the Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rhode Island, which he helped found, for more than 15years. He was also a consultant and the owner of Van Leesten Associates, and also served as the Director of Planning and Development in Providence. After which, he went on to be the Director of Public Affairs for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and then in 2006 he resumed his role at the OIC until his passing. He was board member of numerous organizations including the Board of Regents, Peerless Precision, and Fleet Bank, and was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Roger Williams College, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island.
Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) stated, “Mike played a very important role in my life. Through his vision as the Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), he was essential to me becoming a welder. Giving me a profession and career that helped me raise my children and provide them with a quality education. His life’s work was ensuring that those living in poverty could find a way to rise up, learn a trade, and we are all better for having had him in our lives.”
Many community members have been working on several different ways to honor Mr. Van Leesten’s life and legacy, and the City Council and its members wish to make that process more cohesive. The resolution that will be introduced tonight and will be sent to the Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning, which is chaired by Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris. There the Committee will work to bring all the relevant parties together to discuss the most meaningful and fitting way to honor Mr. Van Leesten.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 6, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
At tonight’s City Council meeting Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) will be introducing an amendment to the Code of Ordinances that puts in place a series of actions to fully engage affected residents in areas where significant infrastructure projects may take place.
This amendment to the Code of Ordinances would not impact any road repairs such as potholes or general maintenance including paving, and restriping of roadway lines. What it does do is call for community engagement around proposals and plans that have a significant impact to the design of any city roadway.
“I often hear from my constituents that they were not notified about significant work being done on their streets which causes them delays that they did not plan for and concerns about not being included in the decision making process,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “Putting in place a process of notification and engagement will go a long way to help our neighbors better understand what is happening in their community, and allows them to have a say in how their street is designed.”
The proposed amendment calls for the following actions to be taken by the Administration’s Department of Public Works any time a new project is to be considered:
- Notice of Public Meeting: Whenever the Director of Public Works receives a request or is considering a project that would require the alteration of a street, including but not limited to, removal or expansion of on-street parking, installation of bicycle lanes, installation of traffic calming measures, or any change to the existing traffic patterns they must hold a public meeting/hearing.
- Written notice would be required to be sent to all property owners or tenants of the adjacent properties where the proposed project would take place.
- Notice must be sent to the Fire Chief, Chief of Police, Commissioner of Public Safety, the City Councilor in who’s Ward the project is to take place and all public utility companies with interests along the project corridor.
- A detailed notice of the project and public meeting/hearing will be published in the newspaper at least ten days before the proposed public meeting/hearing.
- Required Documentation: Before any project can move forward, the Director of Public Works must receive the following documentation:
- A detailed analysis of infrastructure challenges and how the project would impact those challenges.
- A maintenance plan which includes snow and trash removal.
- Written approval from a majority of the property owners along the proposed project corridor.
- If the project is receiving city infrastructure funding, they must provide a fiscal note outlining expenditures related to the proposed project.
- A comprehensive feasibility and public safety impact report for the proposed project.
Failure to comply with any of these requirements will result in an automatic denial, and no permits will be issued by the City in connection with the application.
Majority Leader Ryan continued, “When the City wants to change the direction of a street from two-way to a one-way configuration, they must obtain approval from at least half of the residents on that street to move forward with that plan. If residents wish to opt-out of on-street overnight parking it too requires majority rule. It only makes sense that if you are going to make broad changes to any street that you should require the same. Doing so creates consistency and ensures engagement with the neighbors that are impacted. As a Councilor, it is my responsibility to do not what is only in the best interest of the City, but what is also in the best interest of our residents. Changing streets whole cloth can have serious impacts on property owners from lowering property values to quality of life. This ordinance will ensure that our residents have a say in how their streets and neighborhoods are designed. Having proper planning protocol will ensure transparency and ensure that we are good stewards of precious tax dollars.”
Majority Leader Ryan further stated, “When the city adds bike lanes in a commercial corridor, they take away valuable parking for the small businesses in the neighborhood. It not only hurts the businesses bottom line, but in some cases may cause businesses to close. Going further to harm the quality of life for residents and those who’s livelihoods were dependent on that now closed business.”
Exemptions to this ordinance include:
- Alterations to sidewalks or curb cuts required for development on private property.
- Installation or maintenance of any public utility.
- Any projects implemented by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
The Ordinance will be sent to committee for vetting and public discourse.
by Michael Giles | Oct 31, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Uncategorized, Ward-5
Statement from City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan:
Providence, RI (October 31, 2019)… Earlier this week, electric rental scooters reappeared overnight on our streets. This past summer e-transportation devices made headlines for all of the wrong reasons: they were left littered on public and private property, they were hacked and used for criminal activity, and in some cases reckless operation led to collisions with pedestrians and drivers creating serious public safety concerns.
In July, I sponsored, and the Council passed, a resolution asking that the administration provide the Council an Audit of e-bike and e-scooter pilot programs in the City to ensure that informed decisions could guide our agreements moving forward. The resolution asked that the report be provided 30 days after passage and as of today, we still have not been provided with this report. The City Council, or members of our Council staff, were not briefed prior to the arrival of e-scooters on Sunday.
I am troubled that after our bad experience with e-devices this past Summer that a roll-out happened without warning and without going through a full review requested by the Council.
I support alternate modes of transportation. These companies provide our residents an environmentally-friendlier transportation option, something I believe is important. However, we should not move forward without taking the time to review and vet our programs publicly and ensure that implementation is executed in a way that supports public safety, holds businesses accountable, and makes sense for our city.
For more information, visit us on the web at council.providenceri.gov.
by Billy Kepner | Oct 22, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Providence City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) joined Assistant Store Manager Frank Carnevale and members of his staff this morning at the Stop & Shop located at 850 Manton Avenue to give out free reusable bags. In addition to giving out the reusable bags, Majority Leader Ryan even helped bag groceries. Stop and Shop is giving out 300 free reusable bags at each of their Providence locations today to the first 300 customers.
“I was very happy with the reception we received from customers regarding the change from single-use plastic bags to reusable or free paper bags,” stated City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “As the lead sponsor of this initiative I have worked for over two years with my community partners Clean Water Action, Conservation Law Foundation, Zero Waste Providence, and the City’s Office of Sustainability to craft a plan that is designed to minimize the impact on customers and retailers, and maximize the effectiveness of the law by saving money, protecting our environment, and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods. This effort could not have happened without their support. I want to thank them, and Stop & Shop for helping ensure that those who need a reusable bag have a chance to get one tomorrow!”
Stop & Shop began preparing for the change from plastic to paper earlier this month. They are offering free paper bags, and their Stop & Shop reusable bags are being sold at 2 for $1, and they also have a variety of novelty bags – like ones celebrating the New England Patriots for $1.99. They have various other options at other price points as well.
”We share our customers’ concern over the environmental impact of plastics waste, so we are proud to be a part of this change in Providence,” said Jennifer Brogan, Director of Community Relations for Stop & Shop. “We also want to make the transition easier for our customers by giving away reusable bags, which is the most sustainable choice for the planet.”
The Providence Plastic Bag Reduction Act, modeled on similar laws and best practices enacted in Boston and other municipalities and states across the country, will:
- Significantly reduce the use of plastic bags in Providence.
- Exempt certain dry cleaning and laundry bags, as well as those used to wrap or contain frozen foods.
- Allow businesses to be able to use its supply of plastic bags.
- Require the City’s Office of Sustainability to conduct a comprehensive public education outreach initiative to ensure that residents and businesses are properly informed. And requires regular reporting to the City Council on Program effectiveness.
Majority Leader Ryan continued, “We use over 95 million plastic bags annually in just our city alone. That’s a very real problem, not simply for the litter these bags create in our neighborhoods, but because these bags come with a very real cost. There’s the nearly $1 million the city spends yearly in rejected recycling loads largely due to the presence of plastic bags in our recycling barrels. Additionally, these bags often end up in Narragansett Bay and other area waterways, where they break into smaller pieces called microplastics. Those microplastics pose a deadly threat to sea life, and Clean Water Action has found that they are now a serious source of contamination in the Bay. That’s why passing this legislation was so important, not just for Providence, but for the State.”
Providence joins the following Rhode Island municipalities in banning or reducing plastic bags in their communities: Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Middletown, Narragansett, New Shoreham, Newport, North Kingstown, Portsmouth, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warren, and next month East Providence will come online, followed by Cranston on July 1, 2020.
For community members who need a reusable bag, or have reusable bags they would like to donate, they can do so at any of the Providence Community Library Locations.
For more information on Stop & Shop, visit them on the web at stopandshop.com
by Billy Kepner | Oct 10, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
Providence City Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) announced today that the striping and signage on Eaton Street will be reversed before November 1, 2019. Planned sidewalk and curb cut work will be completed by December 1, 2019 weather permitting.
“I am pleased that the administration has provided a deadline for bringing this project to conclusion,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “While I am not opposed to bike lanes or opportunities that offer multimodal transportation, the city needs to balance all new initiatives with the needs of the surrounding community, particularly when it is a matter of public safety.”
Majority Leader Ryan continued, “I want to once again thank my neighbors for working together to address these genuine issues of public safety. I would also like to thank the Administration for working collaboratively to get this job done as quickly as possible.”
Leader Ryan will continue to advise community members as information becomes available. Please look to City Council social media channels and website for further updates.
by Billy Kepner | Oct 1, 2019 | Ward-15, Ward-5, Ward-7
Tonight the City Council’s Committee on Finance, Chaired by Majority Whip John J. Igliozzi, Esq. (Ward 7), invited Xaykham Kamsyvoravong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Providence Water Board to discuss municipal Asset Transfers as a potential tool to help address the City’s underfunded pension fund.
“Providence is not the only city in the State that is facing serious pension liabilities,” stated Finance Chairman John J. Igliozzi, Esq. “There are 17 other municipalities that have critically underfunded pension plans, and Providence is one of them. It is not only necessary but prudent that we explore all options on the table to mitigate our liabilities and obligations.”
Asset Transfers are a common practice by corporations to help support their unfunded pension liabilities. This practice moves the ownership of a non-cash asset from an entity to its pension fund, allowing the asset’s appraised value to offset unfunded pension liabilities.
Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan and Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Finance (Ward 5) said, “The City of Providence is facing serious long-term financial challenges, and we need to explore all avenues to address our unfunded pension fund. I want to thank Xaykham Kamsyvoravong for his scholarly paper from his time at Roger Williams Law School, his service to the City of Providence, and for joining us to begin an important discussion.”
Leader Ryan continued, “Clearly, asset transfers are not a silver bullet for state and local governments or pension funds, and there are many challenges that need to be addressed. It is hard to identify assets suitable for this funding mechanism and even more difficult to price and structure them fairly. More importantly, an asset transfer should only be one piece of a well thought out, efficient long-term plan that includes pension reforms. We will be looking for help from our State colleagues to determine if it should be part of our long-term plan. Bottom line – it is an accepted accounting treatment that can positively benefit our balance sheet. It doesn’t solve for the cash flow that is needed to address our financial challenges, but it may be part of the broader solution.”
“This is not a new concept, corporations have used Asset Transfers for decades to leverage the value of their assets,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “The Council is looking broadly at our pension obligations, and felt this idea is worthy of further discussion.”
In 2017 the state of New Jersey transferred the New Jersey Lottery to its pensions for a 30-year term, and it offset nearly $13.5 billion of unfunded pension liability. Other states like Connecticut and Illinois are currently exploring this process to mitigate their pension liability as well.
Council President Matos continued, “We have serious financial obligations facing this City – from our schools to infrastructure, to a ballooning pension. Nothing should be off the table, and every idea must be explored and vetted. Asset Transfers are just one area that my leadership team is exploring. This Council is not willing to shirk its duty, and we must be proactive. I applaud the Committee on Finance, and it’s Chairman John Igliozzi and Vice Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan for being so willing to explore these difficult scenarios.”
