Councilwoman Ryan Introduces Ordinance to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Bags

by Michael Florio | Feb 14, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5

Tonight, City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) introduced an ordinance that calls for a reduction of single-use plastic bags and encourages the use of reusable checkout bags at retail establishments throughout the City. This ordinance addresses significant environmental and economic concerns facing the City and is modeled after those successfully passed in other municipalities and is most similar to the one recently passed in Boston.

Ryan, the lead sponsor of the ordinance said, “The production, use, and disposal of single-use plastic bags have significant adverse impacts on the environment and are a serious economic burden to the City’s solid waste disposal and single-stream recycling systems.  Reducing single-use plastic bags will help to curb litter on our streets and waterways, protect the marine environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ryan continued, “The economic reasons are also significant as the City will save at least $1 Million each year by removing this common contaminant to our recycling system. This initiative will also help to remove 95 million single-use bags annually from our landfill.”

Highlights of the Ordinance Include:

• It exempts certain types of plastic bags such as dry cleaning or laundry bags, bags used to wrap or contain frozen foods or prevent or contain moisture, etc.

• It allows retailers to retain the cost of reusable bags sold to customers (Note: large chain retailers are currently selling reusable bags for as little as .25 cents). Retailers spend over $3.9M on bags annually.)

• Countless studies, beginning with Ireland in 2002, have shown that adding a modest fee for bags reduces the use of single-use bags by more than 90%.

• It gives 12 months from passage to become compliant allowing time for education/outreach and for retailers to use existing stock.

• It provides an exemption for retailers who may have a hardship determined by the Director of the Office of Sustainability.

The Ordinance is the product of numerous meetings with the City’s Zero Waste Group and the City’s Office of Sustainability. This energetic group is working on an implementation plan and is committed to a strong grassroots education and outreach campaign for both consumers and retailers.

Ryan was joined by the following councilors who cosponsored the ordinance; Council President David A. Salvatore, Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Terrence Hassett, Councilman Seth Yurdin, Councilman Luis A. Aponte, Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Councilwoman Carmen Castillo, Councilman Bryan Principe, Councilman Michael Correia and Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune. The ordinance will now go to the Ordinance Committee to be vetted.

Some facts on the environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags provided by Upstream Policy:

• Single-use plastic bags are used on average for 12 minutes and live for about 1K years.

• Single-use plastic bag production produces over 2.5K metric tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) annually and contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

• Single-use plastic bags end up in the ocean, breaking down into smaller pieces called microplastics, Clean Water Action found that the Providence River had the highest concentration of these microplastics in the Bay.

• It’s estimated that over 95M plastic bags are used annually in Providence.

• Single-use plastic bags account for roughly 60 tons of garbage.

• Single-use plastic bags are NOT recyclable in our single stream RIRRC’s recycling facility.

• Single-use plastic bags are the cause of contamination of our recycling bins and compromise our recycling program.

Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan Dedicated Ward Five Recreation Center

by Michael Florio | Jan 20, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5

Providence City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, (Ward 5) hosted a ceremony on Saturday to name the Providence Ward 5 recreation center after long-time community volunteer, coach, and public servant Armand E. Batastini Jr. Councilwoman Ryan was joined by 100’s of Batastini’s former players, colleagues, friends, and elected officials to help honor this amazing son of Providence.

“I’m humbled to honor Armand E. Batastini Jr. with this much-deserved recognition,” stated City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan. “Armand has been a force for good in the state of Rhode Island and the city of Providence for decades – not just from his 60-years of coaching young people in basketball or from being the founder of the Elmhurst Little League, but as a public servant as well.  He serves as an inspiration to me and countless others in our pursuit to serve the people of Providence and the great state of Rhode Island.  It’s for these reasons that I’m grateful to be able to ensure that his legacy will live on with the naming of the Armand E. Batastini Jr. Recreation Center for the decades to come. Congratulations Coach!”

Today’s dedication included remarks from the very Reverend Kenneth R. Letoile, O.P. Dominican Provincial, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Mayor Jorge Elorza, City Council President David Salvatore, City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, Providence Police Chief, Colonel Hugh Clements, and Batastini’s daughter Christina.  In addition, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Jim Langevin, and Governor Gina Raimondo all sent well wishes recognizing Batastini for his lifelong commitment to the youth of Providence.

Batastini is a lifelong resident of Rhode Island and has been an active member in the Ward 5 community for many years.  He served as the Rhode Island State Representative for District 8, which included the Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Providence, from 1977 to 1992, working as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims and the Vice-Chairperson on the Health, Education and Welfare Committee. In addition to his nearly 20-years in public office, he spent 36 years in the Providence School Department as a student support specialist. Over his long and illustrious career, he has been very involved in youth sports, founding and acting as a board member for the Elmhurst Little League and coaching St. Pius CYO basketball teams for over 60 years. Known as “Coach” to many, he currently serves as Chairman of the 5th Ward Democratic Committee and Vice Chair of the Democratic City Committee.

Armand E. Batastini Jr. and his wife Mary are the proud parents of four children and five grandchildren. He is a Navy veteran, a graduate of Providence College and holds a Master’s Degree from Boston University in Physical Education.

Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan to Hold Community Meeting Tomorrow Regarding Off-Campus Housing

by Billy Kepner | Nov 28, 2017 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5

Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan will be holding a community meeting on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at 6:00 pm in the basement of St. Pius V Church located at 55 Elmhurst Avenue to discuss the issues surrounding Off-Campus Housing.

“This is a city-wide issue, but it is particularly challenging in the Elmhurst neighborhood,” stated Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, Ward 5. “Since my election, I’ve worked with several different stakeholders to discuss the issues surrounding off-campus collegiate housing. This meeting will bring together the Providence Police Department, city officials, senior leaders from both Providence College and Johnson and Wales University, and concerned neighbors so that we collectively address these challenges. I encourage all area residents to attend this meeting, and share with us your concerns, and how this is affecting your quality of life.”

No stranger to the problems that off-campus housing is causing in the community, Ryan has introduced several different pieces of legislation to address the issue.  In 2015 she hosted public hearings surrounding the issue of too many students living together in homes off-campus.  That meeting led to the Councilwoman introducing an amendment to the zoning ordinance which limited how many students could live in non-owner occupied homes in the R-1 and R-1A zones, and was passed later that year.

Earlier this year, she introduced an ordinance that makes it easier for law enforcement officers to find the source of kegs provided to minors. The ordinance requires more legal responsibility from adults obtaining kegs and codifies a more transparent process for obtaining kegs at liquor stores. The ordinance requires buyers to make a $75 keg deposit, and buyers are also required to sign a document, known as an adult responsibility form, attesting under penalty of perjury that the information they provide for the keg label and other records is accurate. The form also requires keg buyers to attest that they will not allow underage consumption.  The above piece of legislation is now in committee, and she hopes to bring it to the floor for a final vote in early 2018.

Currently, Ryan has an amendment to the Orange Sticker Ordinance being discussed in committee, which she hopes to bring to the floor in early 2018 as well.  Her suggested changes to the penalty phase of the orange sticker ordinance would include:

• Raising the fine from $100 to $500 for the removal or defacing of the Orange sticker.
• The enforcement period goes from 6-months to 12-months, with an extension period if another nuisance takes place.
• It builds in a $500 penalty for any landlord who owns at least two homes that get an orange sticker within a 6-month period.
• Creates a new set of nuisance activities which can lead to a property being deemed a ‘chronic nuisance.’  Some of these activities are noise violations, disorderly conduct, possession of alcohol by a minor, violation of the State’s social host law, other alcohol-related issues and crimes against the Police.

Providence Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan Issues Statement Regarding the Board of Licenses

by Billy Kepner | Nov 1, 2017 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5

For the past two years, I have led the City Council’s call for operational and management reforms to the Board of Licenses. An important component of this effort was the “Pine Report” which was commissioned by the City Council to address growing concerns regarding the Board’s ability to provide business owners and the public with consistent licensing procedures that balance the City’s need for a healthy economy and public safety. The comprehensive report called for a number of reforms. The Council and the administration have been working to implement its recommendations.

At this time, I thank Mr. Pichardo for his service and support the Mayor’s request for him to step down as Chairman. New leadership of the Board will make a positive impact on our community of business owners and the residents of Providence.

Board of Licensing reform is part of the Council’s ongoing effort to bolster and grow the City’s economy while protecting the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

— Providence City Council Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, Ward 5