Recent News
Council Leadership Joins Mayor in Supporting Conditional Increased Funds for Providence Public Schools
Providence, RI – This morning, Mayor Brett Smiley issued a letter to in response to Providence Public Schools District (PPSD) Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez’s request for additional funds. City Council members are in full support of Mayor Smiley’s conditions for...
Committee Votes to Prohibit Development of New Gas Stations in Providence
Providence is set to become the first East Coast city to ban the construction of new gas stations Providence, RI – At tonight’s public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan, the Committee on Ordinances approved a historic amendment to prohibit the construction of any new...
Council Debuts Amendments Package for the Comprehensive Plan
Providence, RI – Today, Providence City Council leadership announced a slate of proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, the urban planning document that will guide the city’s development for the next decade. These proposed changes address key policy areas,...
Council Passes Cannabis Zoning Ordinance and Approves Resolution Condemning Anti-Haitian Rhetoric
Providence, RI – At tonight’s meeting, Council finalized passage of the Cannabis Zoning ordinance, which lays the groundwork for well-regulated and inclusive cannabis retail in Providence. The ordinance updates municipal zoning code to comply with the 2022 Rhode...
Ordinance Committee Adopts Amendment Striking RIPTA Bus Hub Language from Proposed Comprehensive Plan
Providence, RI – After hearing community testimony at tonight’s public hearing, Councilor Justin Roias (Ward 4) introduced an amendment to strike “Point N, Objective M1” from the proposed Comprehensive Plan. Point N, which will not appear in the Comprehensive Plan...
Pedro Espinal Named City Council Majority Leader, Sue AnderBois Deputy Whip
The restructured leadership team will help advance efforts to address key Council priorities Providence, RI – Councilman Pedro Espinal has been elected by a majority of his colleagues on City Council to serve as Majority Leader. In this role, Majority Leader Espinal...
Council Grants First Passage to Cannabis Zoning Ordinance and Supports Striking Nonprofit Workers
Zoning, street safety, honorary street renaming, and more brought to the Council Chamber floor at tonight’s public meeting Providence, RI – Tonight, Council held the first meeting back from the summer legislative break with a docket full of policies that uplift local...
Council Begins Hearings on City’s Comprehensive Plan
The Council kicks off its review of the charter-mandated Comprehensive Plan which will shape the city’s future Providence, RI – At tonight’s Ordinance Committee meeting, the Council began vetting the proposed Comprehensive Plan, a crucial, once per decade urban...
Cannabis Zoning Ordinance Moves Out of Ordinance Committee with a Recommendation to Pass
The recommended ordinance includes equity-driven zoning and public safety measures for potential cannabis retailers Providence, RI – The Providence City Council’s Ordinance Committee has advanced the Cannabis Zoning Ordinance with a recommendation for passage, a...
