Ward 15
All MembersCouncilman Oscar Vargas
Councilman Oscar O. Vargas was elected to City Council in the summer of 2021. He represents Ward 15, which includes the parts of Silver Lake, Olneyville, Manton, and Valley neighborhoods. Councilman Vargas is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Works and a member of the Committee on Ordinances. He is also a member of the Water Supply Board.
As a resident of Providence for more than 20 years, Councilman Vargas has had the opportunity to experience firsthand the issues Ward 15 faces.
Born in Zacapa, Guatemala, Councilman Vargas immigrated to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1989. He attended Central High School, and after graduation, he worked at the Citizens Bank Corporation Office. Councilman Vargas has also worked as a jeweler; a year later, he opened his jewelry shop. In 2016 he received an auto mechanic certificate from MTTI.
Ward 15: Olneyville, Silver Lake, Valley
Recent News

Statement from City Council President Sabina Matos and President Pro Tempore Michael Correia:
In light of the two recent presumptive cases of Coronavirus in Rhode Island, our offices have been in communication with our state and city colleagues to ensure a coordinated response. We want to commend our first responders and our State Department of Health for...

Providence City Council Approves Youth Sports Fund & Grant Program
Tonight Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) and President Pro Tempore Michael Correia’s (Ward 6) amendment to the Code of Ordinances that creates a $40K fund specifically for the support of Providence youth sports programs was passed for the second and final...

Councilman Espinal and City Council Colleagues Advocate for the Safety and Well-Being of Providence Residents and the Port of Providence
At tonight’s City Council meeting Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) along with his colleagues, Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilwoman Rachel Miller (Ward 13), Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), and Councilman...

City Council President Sabina Matos Announces Enhancements to Donigian Park
City Council President Sabina Matos announces that the Providence Parks Department is making several enhancements to Donigian Park. “Donigian Park is a special place in Olneyville and is changing the way the neighborhood interacts with nature,” stated City Council...

Statement from City Council President Sabina Matos Regarding Mayor Elorza’s State of the City Address
I share the Mayor’s sentiments that we are a City in transition, yet remain committed to cultivating a Providence that works for all residents both new and old. One cannot argue that Providence is changing. As the mayor proudly pointed out: development in downtown is...

City Council Introduces Resolution to Honor Michael Van Leesten
Tonight the City Council will introduce a resolution to honor the life and legacy of Michael Van Leesten, a Providence native and a pioneer in the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1960s. Mr. Michael Van Leesten was a graduate of Hope High School, Rhode Island College, and...