Recent News

Municipal Court Judge Honored with Thurgood Marshall Award
Providence, RI – Providence Municipal Court Associate Judge, the Honorable Vanessa Crum, is set to receive the prestigious 2023 Thurgood Marshall Award from the NAACP Providence Branch for her substantial and long-term contributions to civil rights, civil liberties,...

Council Approves $51 Million in Capital Improvement Funding for Parks, Sidewalks, Road Paving, and Sewer Maintenance
Providence, RI – Tonight, City Councilors approved Providence’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget for FY 2024 and beyond, which will allocate $51.29 million in immediate neighborhood improvements for parks, water parks, sidewalks, road paving, and sewer...

Council Approves School District’s Construction Application for $400 Million Bond
Providence, RI – Tonight, City Councilors approved the public school district’s construction application that could lead to borrowing up to $400 million in a school construction bond. The Providence Public School District, currently controlled by the Rhode Island...

Council Approves Reallocating $20 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds
ARPA Funding Councilors passed for a second and final time changes for spending $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Mayor Brett Smiley proposed to the council amending two ARPA ordinances that reallocate spending the remaining ARPA money on long-term...

Councilman John Goncalves Calls for a Pause in the Demolition of Historic Homes
The City of Providence’s Planning Department and the Department of Inspections and Standards could soon issue demolition permits to raze three historic homes at 209, 211, and 217 Angell Street," said Councilman and Senior Deputy Majority Leader John Goncalves (Ward...

Council Passes a New Energy Reporting Requirement for Large Buildings
Providence, RI – During Thursday’s City Council meeting, councilors unanimously passed a new requirement to track energy use in large Providence Buildings. The Building Energy Reporting Program, or “BERO” as it is known, would create and establish a publicly disclosed...

City Council Weighs Reallocation of $20 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds
ARPA Funding PROVIDENCE, RI – Councilors received proposed changes for the spending of $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Mayor Brett Smiley proposes amending two ARPA ordinances that would shift spending the remaining funds on long-term...

City Council Passes PILOT Agreements with Colleges and Universities
Also Elects a New City Treasurer and Swears in Chief Judge Emeritus Frank Caprio PILOT Agreements Providence, RI - Councilors approved two significant agreements with the city’s tax-exempt higher education institutions, setting a new era of contributions to Providence...

City Council Introduces a City-Wide Rental Registry for Landlords & Sets to Establish Providence as America’s First Climate Jobs City
Rental Housing Registry Providence, RI - Councilors received a proposed ordinance that would create a first-of-its-kind registration for all occupied and vacant rental units throughout the city of Providence. The aim of a rental registry is to help address...