Neighborhood Highlight: Washington Park
Starting this month, the Council Newsletter will feature a neighborhood highlight! The City of Providence is filled with 15 wards and even more diverse and interesting neighborhoods. This month's neighborhood highlight is Washington Park!
The Washington Park neighborhood is located within Ward 10, represented by Councilman Pedro Espinal. Washington Park is home to the Johnson and Wales University Harborside Campus, the Save the Bay Headquarters and Providence's industrial waterfront.
In the Washington Park neighborhood, you'll find a strong Hispanic community and many small businesses along Allens Ave.
Recently around Washington Park, Councilman Espinal has celebrated the ribbon cutting for park improvements at Columbia Park on Michigan Avenue, and welcomed the new Casa Azul Taqueria Restaurant to the neighborhood. Councilman Espinal has also advocated for the recent passage of a City zoning change to reduce air pollution in the Washington Park neighborhood.
Or call our office at: 401-521-7477
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Meet Your City Councilor |
Providence is separated into 15 distinct Wards, comprising 21 unique neighborhoods, each a diverse and dynamic community. We believe that access to your Councilor is paramount.
By clicking on the link below you will be able to learn more about your Councilor, and have the opportunity to send them an email to share your thoughts or concerns.
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Don't forget to participate in the 2020 Census! Fill it out here.
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Supporting Small Business |
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On September 1, the City Council presented Casa Azul Taqueria with a citation in celebration of their grand opening at 890 Allens Ave. Congratulations to owners Javier and Alexandra Soto who have worked hard to bring authentic Mexican food to Ward 10!
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Council President Matos and President Pro Tempore Correia joined in celebration of the grand opening of La Mariscada Restaurant and Bar at 671 Broadway on September 19. Owner Heyra Morataya Ponce will be bringing delicious carribean food to the neighborhood! La Mariscada was a recipient of the Small Business Corridor grant created by the Providence City Council and Providence Revolving Fund.
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Manton Ave Businesses Awarded with Providence Commercial Corridor Micro-Business Loan |
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On September 25, three Providence businesses were awarded with a Providence Commercial Corridor Micro-Business Loan. This program was created by the Providence Revolving Fund in collaboration with the City Council. The Family Bakery located at 243 Manton Avenue, El Primo Fruits & Vegetables located at 212 Manton Avenue and Iluminada Hair Salon & Barber at 161 Manton Avenue all received financing to help address necessary safety measures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Council President Matos and Providence Revolving Fund Director Carrie Zaslow visited the three businesses to congratulate the owners.
Congratulations and best of luck to Juan Lantigua, owner of The Family Bakery; Ramon Hernandez, owner of El Primo Fruits and Vegetables; and Virgen Borges, owner of Iluminada Hair Salon and Barber Shop. If you are interested in applying for the Providence Commercial Corridor Micro-Business Loan, please visit the City Council website here to see if you qualify and to learn how to apply.
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El Primo Fruits and Vegetables
212 Manton Ave
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Care Packages for Students |
Council President Pro Tempore Correia delivered backpacks to Police Captain Henry Remolina and Tina Shepard of the Providence Police Department Community Relations Bureau; who are collecting items to create back to school care packages for Providence students. |
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September 14 was the first day of school for the City of Providence. That morning, Council President Matos visited Webster Ave Elementary School with Principal Carolina Creel and William D’Abate Elementary School with Principal Brent Kermen, fourth grade teacher Ms. Almongo and Superintendent Harrison Peters.
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Bringing Art to Campus at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School
Councilman Goncalves announced on September 14 the collaboration between the community and The Avenue Concept, Rhode Island’s leading public art organization, for a pilot project that has brought art to the campus of the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School.
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Crossroads PVD
Councilwoman Harris attended another ribbon cutting on September 18 on Pearl St. where the new Crossroads PVD Mural was officially unveiled.
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Cranston St Basketball Court |
On September 18, Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Cranston St basketball court. The court now features updated equipment and a beautiful mural covering the ground!
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Council President Pro Tempore Correia was joined by Council President Matos, Councilman Taylor and Councilman Espinal along with Mayor Elorza, and professional BMX bikers Chris and Cam Childs to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Manton Skate Park. The new park features a high level skating course to complement the existing adjacent skate park. |
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Mt Pleasant Produce in the Park |
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Council Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, The Partnership for Providence Parks, The Friends of Mt. Pleasant Park recently launched the Produce in the Park Fall Market Share program. Produce in the Park connects the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood with weekly shares of local, sustainably-grown food specifically, the program offers produce shares sourced from local farmers. If enough shareholders register paying full price for their shares, we will be able to subsidize shares and get produce to families in our community who aren't able to pay full price for the share. A full priced share is $21 per week and includes 8 lbs. of fresh fall produce which has been locally sourced. Farm Shares can be picked up on Wednesdays from 3 -6 PM at Mt. Pleasant Park. If you have questions about the program, feel free to contact the Partnership for Providence Parks via email at [email protected]!
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On September 20, Council President Matos, United States Senators Reed and Whitehouse, United States Congressman Cicilline and Langevine, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, The United Way of Rhode Island, ONE Neighborhood Builders and Clinica Esperanze/Hope Clinic to kick off the “10 Days for 10 Years campaign, reminding Rhode Islanders to take the census.
*Please note: In the days following this event, the Census was extended through October! If you haven't completed the census, you can still do so here: 2020census.gov
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On September 27, Council President Matos, Councilwoman Castillo and Rhode Island State Representative John Lombardi came together for a community clean up and Census Drive on Bowdin St.
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Neighborhood Improvements |
Council President Matos shared the good news that thanks to her advocacy and the hard work of the Providence Redevelopment Agency, two nuisance homes on Bowdoin St in Ward 15 have been given the green light by courts to be demolished and will be replaced by affordable housing units for low income families.
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On September 17, Councilman Narducci, Councilman Espinal, Mayor Elorza, Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, Director of the DaVinci Center John DeLuca, members of the Providence and Central Falls Police Departments, the Nonviolence Institute and One Gun Gone announced a gun buyback program to be taking place in Providence and Central Falls on October 17.
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Councilor Salvatore held a community meeting with residents from Iona St on September 16 regarding traffic calming measures in the Elmhurst neighborhood. Councilor Salvatore held another community meeting on Kentland St. on September 23.
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Councilman Taylor came together with neighbors on Althea St. for an outdoor community meeting on September 24.
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Celebrating the Joslin Wolfpack |
Council President Matos and President Pro Tempore Correia were at Joslin Rec Center on September 19 to join the Joslin Wolfpack for their season celebration! |
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Throughout the month of September, Councilors have been holding countless food drives in various neighborhoods throughout the City. In collaboration with community partners like The Elisha Project, Rhode Island Census and the Department of Health, the Council helps to distribute food and face masks along with helping residents fill out the 2020 Census. See the pictures below for a look at these rewarding, necessary community events.
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Councilwoman Helen Anthony Leads Council Colleagues in Opposition to Proposed Multi-Hub Bus System in Downtown Providence |
Councilwomen Anthony and LaFortune, and Councilman Goncalves put forth a resolution in opposition to the proposed multi-hub bus system Downtown Providence. This resolution is also co-sponsored by Councilor Kerwin and Councilor Miller. It will be referred to the City Council’s Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning (URRP) for further discussion. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has proposed a substantial redesign of the Kennedy Plaza bus hub in downtown Providence. This redesign decentralizes bus activity in Providence which adversely impacts the transit riders. Significant opposition has been voiced by many community members and groups, including Rhode Island Transit Riders, Providence Streets Coalition, Grow Smart Rhode Island, Jewelry District Association, and the Providence Foundation.
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Council President Matos and President Pro Tempore Correia Introduce Resolutions Calling on the City to Address Nuisance Issues |
City Council President Matos introduced a resolution calling on the City Solicitor’s office to reconvene the Providence Nuisance Task Force. The Task Force was initially established to identify and address nuisance properties in the City systematically and collaboratively and has been dormant due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Nuisance Task Force is comprised of representatives from the City Solicitor’s office, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Department of Inspection and Standards, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office. They are tasked with resolving current and long-standing nuisance properties throughout the City to protect the health and well-being of residents. In addition to this resolution, Council President Matos and President Pro Tempore Correia will be introducing a resolution requesting the Department of Public Works to increase street-sweeping efforts across the City.
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Councilors Honor Providence Police Officer Jose Deschamps with Municipal Medal for Deeds of Bravery |
At a special ceremony in the City Council chambers this evening, Providence Police Officer Jose Deschamps was honored with the Council’s Municipal Medal for Deeds of Bravery. An ordinance was introduced by Senior Deputy Majority Leader Narducci and Council President Matos at the September 3 Council meeting to recognize Officer Deschamps for his exemplary conduct in the line of duty. On August 13, Officer Jose Deschamps was responding to a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of Narragansett Avenue and New York Avenue. After arriving on the scene, Officer Deschamps was approached by a man seeking assistance with an unresponsive child and provided lifesaving CPR, which helped stabilize the 8-month-old boy. This award was codified into the Providence City Charter in 1915 and since then, the medal has only been bestowed twice in documented City history. The first was to Patrolman John Kelly who saved a 10-year-old boy from drowning in 1918 and the second was to a group of firemen who saved a seven-month-old girl who stopped breathing in 2016. The medal was hand crafted by Olneyville artist Kiki Scuillo and features the City Council seal representing industry, watchfulness and peace as well as a commemorative seal of honor and heroism.
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Providence City Councilors’ Introduce the Providence Tax Stabilization Investment Act |
Providence City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), along with a majority of her Council Colleagues introduced an ordinance entitled the Providence Tax Stabilization Investment Act. The Providence Tax Stabilization Investment Act (The Act) would standardize the processes for all future Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs) in the City of Providence by increasing transparency, simplifying and streamlining the application process, and clearly defining the requirements that all developers must abide by should they wish to obtain a stabilization agreement with the City. The proposed legislation will create a tax stabilization system that not only protects our City’s financial interests but also incentivizes new development.
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Upcoming City Meetings
City Council Meeting
Thursday, October 15
5:30 PM
Upcoming City Council Events
Friday, October 9-Sunday, October 11
Wayland Square
Saturday, October 10
333 Adelaide Avenue
1:00 PM-2:30PM
Monday, October 12
10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Tuesday, October 13
224 Dexter Street
10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Wednesday, October 14
100 Niagara Street
1:00 PM-3:30 PM
Thursday, October 15
Facebook Live Event
7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Saturday, October 24
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Sackett Street School Parking Lot
Tuesday, October 27
6:00 PM
Location TBD
Wednesday, October 28
6:00 PM
Conley Stadium Parking Lot
434 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Friday, October 30
6:00 PM
Mt. Pleasant Fire Station
Saturday, October 31
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Dexter Street Park
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If you want to find information about past, present and future meetings then the open meetings portal is a must. Using the below link you can access meeting minutes, agendas, documents, videos and other useful information at the click of a button. |
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Providence City Council
council.providenceri.gov
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©Providence City Council 2020 |
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