Council President John J. Igliozzi: “The report of a mother being ripped from her car and attacked by a mob of ATV and dirt bike riders, while her young child was in the car, is deeply disturbing, and yet another example of the completely unacceptable wave of violent crime we have seen in our city in recent weeks. Incidents like this–a mother driving her car on a weeknight and being attacked at random–cut to the very core of public safety. Put simply, too many Providence residents do not feel safe as our city is experiencing this surge in violent crime.
“As Council President, I am committed to taking both immediate and longer-term actions to stop this crime wave in its tracks. I strongly support Governor McKee’s call to allow the Rhode Island State Police to coordinate with the Providence Police Department to provide additional resources and foot patrols. This should happen immediately.
“I agree with Councilman Salvatore’s call to hold a special session of the City Council to immediately begin to tackle this public safety emergency. I will be scheduling a special Council as a Whole meeting early next week to urgently address this unacceptable outbreak of violent crime. I look forward to hearing from Public Safety Commissioner Pare and Police Chief Clements on the action plan.
“Additionally, Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan and I will work with our Council colleagues to include funding for an additional Police Academy in the 2022-23 budget. We must get our Providence Police force back to the 500 full-time officers needed to fully reimplement community policing. This must happen as quickly as possible, and that is why I am also calling on Mayor Elorza to immediately begin recruitment for the next Police Academy, which was approved in our most recent budget. We need more police on the streets, interacting with our residents, business owners, and community groups to prevent these types of horrific, random crimes.
“Finally, the City of Providence has over $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars available. I believe that it is appropriate to immediately develop a plan to use some of these funds for a significant investment in the public safety infrastructure and diversion efforts of our city.”
Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan: “Last night’s attack on a motorist by individuals illegally riding ATVs on Providence streets is horrifying. I am once again calling on the Mayor to give the police department the resources it needs to enforce City ordinances and get these vehicles off our roads. The threat to public safety could not be more clear. Our residents are fearful and are being endangered and it is past the time for words; we need action from the administration. The mayor has to use all the tools we have at our disposal, which means full commitment to community policing and accepting the offer of assistance from the State Police.”
At the last City Council meeting, Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) and Council President John J. Igliozzi (Ward 7) introduced a resolution calling on Mayor Elorza to enforce the multiple laws that the Providence City Council has enacted to mitigate the dangers and nuisance of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the City of Providence.
By law, recreational off-road vehicles are banned from operating on city streets as they are not designed for that use which creates significant safety hazards for the public as well as the operators of the vehicles and greatly compromises quality of life for residents.
Working with Public Safety officials and the community, the Council has passed multiple ordinances and resolutions to stop the illegal use of ATVs in the City. However, the illegal operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes in Providence continues to create significant public safety concerns for motorists, pedestrians, and residents.
“As a freshman Councilor, I got to work drafting and enacting legislation that would keep dangerous ATVs off our City streets. In doing so, my Council colleagues and I created a clear, legal framework that prohibited the operation of illegal ATVs and gave the Providence Police Department the power to seize and destroy any ATVs operating illegally. Yet years later, these laws are not being enforced to the level that is warranted or at all. Our City is still facing the major threats to traffic and pedestrian safety that ATVs create. Significant action from the Mayor is overdue,” stated Finance Chairwoman Jo-Ann Ryan.
The reckless operation of these vehicles on city streets and sidewalks can result in collisions with pedestrians and other motorists, confusion and fear for other motorists trying to safely use city streets, and significant noise pollution for residents in the surrounding area.
“It is very disappointing that ATV’s continue to degrade the quality of life in the City of Providence. As President of the Providence City Council, I am calling on Mayor Elorza and his administration to enforce the laws that the council has put in place. Every week, there is a new story about an accident, injury or traffic jam caused by these reckless drivers. It is time the administration takes action and protects our residents,” stated Council President John J. Igliozzi.
Tonight I was pleased to join my Council colleagues in the final passage of the budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year. This budget responsibly addresses some of the immediate impacts to residents, small businesses, and community organizations from the COVID-19 pandemic, while making necessary investments in key City services, and avoiding an increase in property taxes.
We faced a daunting challenge to overcome the uncertainty and the continued impacts of the pandemic. I am thankful to have worked collaboratively with my colleagues on the Finance Committee and the Mayor’s Administration to pass a City budget that invests in our recovery and key City services, while holding the line on property taxes. Thanks to American Recovery Plan Act stimulus funds, this budget invests over $42 million in COVID-19 relief for our small businesses, community centers, and other projects that will address both immediate needs and pay long term dividends. In addition, I am pleased that this budget invests in public safety, expands Pre-K classrooms, and continues investments in affordable housing.
Determining how to prudently invest the stimulus funds in areas of immediate need, with an eye toward longer-term fiscal stability, was indeed a collaborative effort. I especially want to thank the members of the Finance Committee— Majority Leader James Taylor, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas Narducci, Majority Whip Carmen Castillo, and Councilwoman Helen Anthony–for their collaboration and dedication throughout our many Finance committee meetings and hearings. I also want to thank Mayor Elorza and the administration’s finance team for working so diligently with us to develop a fiscally responsible FY 2022 City budget.
Thank you as well to the Internal Auditor, City Treasurer and all the Council staff who provided analysis and expert review of various proposals. I am confident this budget will put Providence on strong footing to help us recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide the quality of life and city services our residents deserve and expect.
FY 2022 budget highlights are included below.
A more detailed summary of these highlights be found here.
A few of the highlights of this year’s budget include:
•No property tax increases.
•Invests in the Department of Inspections and Standards to deal with quality-of-life issues.
•Creates a new Department of Equity and Inclusion.
•Invests in public safety, including expansion of diversion efforts, creating anti-violence programs, and provisions to fund recruitment of new Providence Police officers.
•Provides an additional $300,000 for Providence Community Centers for programs that qualify for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources.
•Creates a new Community Relations and Diversion Services Major position within the Providence Police Department.
•Invests $350,000 to expand the number of pre-kindergarten classrooms in Providence, increasing access to quality early learning programs.
•Invests ARPA funds for night basketball, recreational center programs for our youths, free internet access at our largest parks and recreation centers, sewer repair fund, and a $7 million small business relief fund.
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Councilors Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3) and John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a resolution calling for a review of Mayor Jorge Elorza’s license agreement with the charter school Achievement First, which grants the charter school use of space in a City-owned elementary school. The resolution describes how the execution of license agreement did not follow the required public process outlined in Section 416 (6) of the City Charter which requires a resolution of the City Council to enter into a lease of a City building. This resolution was passed by the full council.
“With the current state of Providence’s school system, City leaders should all be working together to ensure that major decisions such as this license agreement are carefully considered and deliberated. It is customary for the City Council to review any lease of City property, and it is in the best interest of Mayor Elorza, Achievement First and all Providence students for the Council to take the time to properly vet this agreement,” stated Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2).
According to the City Charter, any lease of City owned property must be authorized by the City Council. Mayor Elorza entered into a license agreement wherein Achievement First will rent a portion of the property located at the Charles M. Fortes Elementary school for the purpose of operating a charter school at this location beginning in September. The City Council was not given the opportunity to review or approve this agreement prior to it being finalized.
“The City Council is the legislative body of the City of Providence. We are here to provide an open, democratic process for the City’s development and initiatives. It is disappointing that the mayoral administration did not initially reach out for Council input on a plan which involves the lease of valuable public property. We are calling on the administration to comply with the City Charter and allow for due process,” added Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1).
In March of 2015, the City Council reviewed a similar situation, in which The International Charter School was being considered to lease the Windmill Street School building. This request was communicated by the City’s Director of Public Property to the City Council. The Council’s Committee on City Property reviewed the request and reported back to the full Council, which voted to against the lease agreement.
“Moving forward, communication and transparency between our City’s governing bodies should be a priority. As a City Council, we cannot fulfill our duties if we cannot work collaboratively with the Mayor and other City departments. While charter schools remain a contentious issue in our city, this is also a matter of principle and good government. We are committed to adhering to the requirements set forth by the city charter, which provides the foundation of our city government,” added Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune.
Approved budget contains no tax increases and uses $42 million in stimulus funds for small business relief, youth investments, free public Internet access, and more.
Tonight, the Providence City Council voted to approve a $539 million FY 2022 City Budget including $42 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address both immediate needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic and longer-term investments that will pay dividends for years to come. The budget holds the line on residential and commercial property taxes, while funding key City services that residents expect and deserve.
Tonight’s vote to approve the FY 2022 City budget follows 5 weeks and more than 11 Finance Committee hearings to receive input from the Mayor’s office, Council members, and city residents and community organizations.
“I want to thank my colleagues on the City Council and Mayor Elorza for working collaboratively to put together and pass this budget that invests in our city at a time of great challenge for our residents,” said City Council President John J. Igliozzi. “Developing this budget during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. Through months of hearings, we have heard just how hard hit our families, small businesses, and community organizations have been by the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. To address these needs, I am pleased that we are able to utilize $42 million in ARPA funds to invest in summer programming for our youth, early learning programs, free public internet access at parks and recreation centers, anti-violence programs, homeless interventions, street sweeping and sewer repairs, our public libraries, and relief for our small businesses. In addition, this budget continues to invest in core City services including inspections and public safety, while holding the line on taxes.”
Continued Igiozzi, “I also want to highlight this budget’s investment in public safety, which will provide the staffing and resources necessary to respond to criminal activity and to keep the people of our city safe. Talking with residents, many have said they are worried about a rise in crime and support smart investments in our police department, as well as substantive reforms to address community concerns about some policing practices. That is why this budget includes funding for recruitment of new police officers to protect our neighborhoods, and also creates a new Community Relations and Diversion Services Major position within the police department to resolve public safety issues that would be better dealt with through outreach and partnerships with City agencies and community-based organizations.”
“During this time of great need, I am pleased that my colleagues on the City Council and Mayor Elorza have worked together to pass a budget that helps our residents, small businesses, and community organizations get through the COVID-19 pandemic, while making long term investments in our city,” said Councilwoman and Finance Chair Jo-Ann Ryan. “I am particularly pleased that this budget provides $7 million in direct relief for Providence’s small businesses, invests in early education for our youth, and invests in basic City services like public safety and housing and building safety inspections to address quality of life issues.”
FY 2022 City budget highlights include:
•No property tax increases.
•Invests in the Department of Inspections and Standards to deal with quality-of-life issues.
•Invests in the Department of Public Property to hire additional personnel to handle projects in a more efficient and timely fashion.
•Creates a new Department of Equity and Inclusion.
•Invests in public safety, including expansion of diversion efforts, creating anti-violence programs, and provisions to fund recruitment of new Providence Police officers.
•Continues to invest in City parks with a portion of Tax Stabilization revenue going to the Parks and Recreation fund.
•Provides an additional $300,000 for Providence Community Centers for programs that qualify for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources.
•Creates a new Community Relations and Diversion Services Major position within the Providence Police Department.
•10% of tax revenue from projects with a Tax Stabilization Agreement (TSA) will be dedicated to supporting debt service on the $25M Providence Redevelopment Agency Special Obligation Bond that funded the Providence Housing Trust in FY21.
•Invests $350,000 to expand the number of pre-kindergarten classrooms in Providence, increasing access to quality early learning programs.
•Invests ARPA funds for night basketball, recreational center programs for our youths, free internet access at our largest parks and recreation centers, sewer repair fund, and a $7 million small business relief fund.
At the June 17th City Council meeting, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan introduced and the Council passed a resolution calling on the City’s Commissioner of Public Safety and Traffic Engineer to conduct a comprehensive study on all of the speed control measures and signage installed in the City in the last year.
“While not all may agree on Traffic calming measures, they are an important tool in protecting public health and safety when implemented correctly and after appropriate community engagement. The most recent traffic calming measures that have been installed across the City have come under scrutiny surrounding their design and effectiveness. Some speed humps were ultimately removed resulting in additional cost. I am advocating for a comprehensive study of our City’s use of traffic calming measures so that we can ensure that they are designed and installed in the correct manner and that after installation they are evaluated for effectiveness,” stated Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5).
The resolution requests that the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Traffic Engineer provide the City Council with a comprehensive analysis and report of all traffic calming measures installed in the last year, pre and post installation traffic data, costs of installation, and an implementation plan to immediately undertake all necessary steps to correct any identified deficiencies.
“Residents want to feel safe and comfortable on their own streets. I am optimistic that this study will give us a better understanding of what works for all, and we will be able to use this information in future planning. I look forward to the continued work with our Public Safety and Traffic Engineering departments to ensure that we make our city safe and welcoming for everyone”, added Councilwoman Ryan.
Upon passage, copies of this resolution will be sent to Mayor Jorge Elorza, the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Traffic Engineer.
This resolution was co-sponsored by Council President John J. Igliozzi (Ward 7), Council President Pro Tempore Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), Majority Whip Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1). Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3) and Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Councilor David Salvatore (Ward 14).
