“Thank you to all the Providence residents who took the time and voted in today’s special election. Your voice counts. I believe the city should issue a pension obligation bond to help mitigate our struggling pension system. The overwhelmingly affirmative vote today is one more step in the process, which if passed next by the General Assembly, will place the city on a path to predictably budget pension payments and not crowd out essential city services that residents depend on.”
“I would like to thank Speaker Shekarchi and Representatives in the House who supported this legislation with their votes today. We are one step closer, and now I respectfully ask members of the Senate and the public to keep an open mind toward this legislation. A pension obligation bond does not solve the city’s pension problems but will help mitigate a broken system. A special election is set for next Tuesday, June 7. Residents can cast an early ballot at city hall during the day. I would encourage all to come out and vote Yes on 1.”
For more information on the referendum – https://www.providenceri.gov/yeson1/
To learn more about where to vote – https://www.providenceri.gov/board-of-canvassers/
Mayor Elorza has submitted a budget to the City Council, and now the budgetary process begins in earnest with the Council’s Finance Committee. I am encouraged that the proposed budget funds a new police academy, putting more officers on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Providence residents deserve to be safe. Another bright spot reduces the car tax and its’ eventual phase out next year. Small and large business owners will see a drop in the city’s commercial tax rate on real estate for the first time in 10 years. We all know the real estate market has seen enormous gains over the last few years. New tax assessments from the city have gone out in the mail, which show those increased values. I want to assure taxpayers that the City Council will work with the administration to help balance those new values with the tax rate to impact homeowners minimally.
“I commend federal prosecutors and law enforcement for successfully bringing Nicholas Scaglione of Cranston to justice. Scaglione admitted to his role in burning a Providence Police car during riots nearly two years ago. There are peaceful ways to protest, but this man’s actions were deplorable to the people of Providence and an affront to the men and women in our police department who keep our streets safe. Torching a police car contributed to a horrific night of violence and looting in the city. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”
At tonight’s emergency meeting of the Providence City Council, councilors reviewed a proposed ordinance laying out new procedures and accountability in the event of mass terminations in the city. The proposed law was read into the record, discussed, and referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.
“The City Council encourages all Providence employees to get vaccinated. I’m pleased and relieved no police officers were fired today. Our city neighborhoods are safer and more secure as a result. From the beginning, this action was about maintaining public safety and the risk to our city from potentially firing more than 70 police officers. The Council will monitor the situation closely and make sure the mayor and his administration have a concrete plan should they consider a mass firing of officers in the days and weeks ahead.
“At the close of city business today, we learned that there was no mass firing of Providence Police officers. We’re pleased the city administration has taken a reasonable approach to what could have been a disastrous situation if more than 70 officers were taken off the job and removed from policing our streets. At 5:30 tonight, the City Council will hold an emergency meeting to take up a proposed ordinance that will lay out new procedures and accountability for any mass terminations in the capital city,” said President Igliozzi.
Tonight’s 5:30 p.m. meeting will be held virtually, with remote access for the public and media.
