Ward 2
All MembersCouncilwoman Helen Anthony
Councilwoman Helen Anthony represents Ward 2, which consists of the Blackstone, College Hill and Wayland neighborhoods. Councilwoman Anthony currently works as a land use attorney at Handy Law, LLC; she served on the Providence Zoning Board of Appeals and was sworn into the City Council in 2019. She currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Finance, and a member of the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits, and the Rules Committee.
Ward 2: Blackstone, College Hill, Wayland
Ward 2 is comprised of 3 neighborhoods; Blackstone, College Hill and Wayland. This area was the location of the first colonial settlement in Rhode Island by Roger Williams in the seventeenth Century and the area was further developed by Chad Brown in the nineteenth century. Now, Ward 2 is home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design as well as an impressive collection of historically preserved eighteenth and nineteenth century architecture including the Ladd Observatory and the Providence Athenaeum. Ward 2 boasts the Roger Williams National Memorial, the RISD Museum and the Blackstone Conservation District as just a few of its many attractions.
Recent News
Statement from Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan Regarding Upcoming Police Academy
I am pleased to share that the Providence Police Department has announced the 70th annual Police Training Academy will commence on Monday, May 24th. The academy will be located in Ward 5, at the former Providence Water Supply Building at 552 Academy Avenue and will...
Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan Calls to Reconvene City Fireworks Task Force
At the May 6 City Council Meeting, Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) introduced and the Council passed a resolution to relaunch the City’s successful Fireworks Task Force. “With summer approaching, so too is the threat to public safety presented by the rampant illegal...
Providence City Council Supports Rhode Island General Assembly’s Special Commission to Study Sex Worker Safety
At last Thursday's City Council meeting, the Council passed a resolution endorsing and urging the passage by the General Assembly of House Resolution 2021 H-5250, creating a special legislative commission to study ensuring racial equity and optimizing health and...
Councilman John Goncalves Proposes Ordinance Requiring Notice of Demolition to Council Representative
At last night's City Council meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a change to the Providence Code of Ordinances which would require a building official to provide written notice to their City Council representative upon the issuance of a demolition...
Councilman John Goncalves Urges Passage of Rescue Rhode Island Act at the State House
At tonight's City Council meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a resolution supporting Rhode Island House Bills 2021 H-5674, H-6074, H-5595, and Senate Bills 2021 S-0219, S-0468, and S-0540, known collectively as the Rescue Rhode Island Act. This...
Providence City Council Calls on Mayor Elorza to Enforce Existing ATV Laws and Names Members to the Council’s Special Commission on ATVs & Recreational Vehicles
At tonight's City Council Meeting, Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) proposed a resolution urging Mayor Jorge Elorza to decisively enforce the multiple laws that the Providence City Council has enacted to mitigate the dangers and nuisance of all-terrain vehicles...