January

2026 Council Newsletter

The January 24th snowstorm dumped between 16 and 20 inches of snow on Providence neighborhoods, causing challenges for many Providence residents. "I’ve been on the phone since Sunday with neighbors who are understandably frustrated. Days after the storm, many streets are still narrow, unplowed, and difficult to navigate. My car has gotten stuck a few times right in my own neighborhood. DPW crews have been working nonstop, and I wholeheartedly support the workers on the ground,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) in a GoLocalProv article. Many councilors fielded calls throughout the week from constituents with similar issues.

“My concerns are with a lack of preparedness and overall strategy," President Miller added. "Given the extent of this storm’s impacts, residents are eager to see progress on cleanup and hear clearer updates on what comes next. People tell me they just want to know when their streets will be cleared and what to expect in the days ahead, and that’s completely reasonable."

Mayor Smiley's administration has shared that snow removal remains ongoing in all neighborhoods. PVD311 remains the best way to make requests or report issues, including streets in need of attention or trash that was not picked up. To file a complaint and request action, residents should dial 3-1-1 or submit via the online portal. Requests may also be submitted by email to PVD311@providenceri.gov.

Policies that Prioritize Providence Residents

Providence has the fastest rent growth in the country, even while the national median rent decreased. The median rent in Providence is 40% higher today than it was in 2020. Rising costs have forced working families out of the city and have directly contributed to rising rates of homelessness. Since March 2020, Providence has experienced more than 24,000 evictions. Between 2023 and 2024, Rhode Island experienced a 35% rise in homelessness, the second-highest increase in the country.

“Providence renters are cost-burdened—we are the least affordable city for renters in the country. We have to act now to create some stability for Providence families,” said Council President Miller. “This ordinance takes immediate action to give residents the breathing room they need. It stabilizes costs, slows a runaway rent pricing problem that will not regulate itself, and prevents our residents from being forced out of our city, all without slowing growth.”

“Rent stabilization is about keeping Providence livable for the people who call it home,” said President Pro Tempore Pichardo. “It brings predictability and fairness to a chaotic housing market by putting an end to excessive rent hikes and creating enforceable guardrails on a market that has been out of control for too long. This is a commonsense, Providence-specific approach that protects working families. It gives large property owners a simple path to seek exemptions as necessary, ensuring continued investment in maintenance and repair. And it recognizes that small, local landlords by and large already operate in the framework envisioned by the ordinance—making modest annual rent adjustments to increase costs.”

For answers to commonly asked questions, the councilors sponsoring the ordinance have put together an FAQ, which will be updated on the City Council’s website at council.providenceri.gov/housinghub/rentstabilizationfaq/. In an op-ed published in The Boston Globe on January 20th, Council President Rachel Miller outlines how rent stabilization could help solve Providence's housing crisis. 

Notable features of the Providence Rent Stabilization Ordinance include:

• Caps annual rent increases at 4%. A landlord cannot raise the rent by more than 4%, absent a special circumstance, in any 12-month period.
• Sets base rent as the rent charged 180 days before the ordinance takes effect, preventing last-minute price spikes before the law goes into force.
• Establishes a Rent Board to administer and enforce the rules. This five-member board and their staff will review landlord petitions for larger increases, hear tenant complaints, and ensure the ordinance is followed fairly.
• Tenants can report suspected violations and are protected from any landlord retaliation for exercising their rights. The Rent Board can roll back unlawful rent hikes, order landlords to refund overcharged rent, and the City can levy fines for serious violations.
• Exemptions for small, owner-occupied buildings with one to three units, such as duplexes and triple-deckers where the owner lives on-site. A narrow exemption for one additional small property owned by the same individual (not a corporation).
• A 15-year exemption for new construction, including currently existing buildings, to ensure that rent stabilization does not interfere with housing production or financing.
• Built-in flexibility for landlords to address major expenses. Owners can seek approval for a higher rent increase if they make significant capital improvements or have other special circumstances where a larger increase is necessary to ensure they can earn a fair return.
• Automatic flexibility for large property tax increases, allowing landlords to pass on a fair portion of unusually high tax hikes above a 5% threshold using a clear formula.
• Rent can only be increased one time by 4% when a tenant moves out and a new tenant moves in, maintaining stability through vacancies.
• Complaint-based enforcement, allowing tenants to report violations without creating a large new bureaucracy or annual reporting burden on property owners.
• Utility charges must reflect actual costs, ensuring that landlords may only pass through the real price of utilities and not mark them up.
• Properties must be up to code to qualify for annual rent increases, meaning landlords must maintain safe, habitable buildings to apply the standard 4% increase.

Ward 2's Jill S. Davidson Joins the City Council

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and serves on the boards of the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Rhode Island Chapter. She has held long-term leadership positions with multiple parent-teacher organizations in Providence, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School PTO, Nathan Bishop Middle School PTO, and the Classical High School Community Association.

Councilor Davidson received her A.B. from Brown University and her M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Visit Davidson’s profile for more information.

In December, Councilors passed an ordinance supporting the Mile of History project, which authorizes financing for major infrastructure upgrades to Benefit Street, known as one of Providence’s most historic corridors. Benefit Street and its accompanying attractions see 300,000 tourists each year. Nearly 40% of the stretch of sidewalk has been determined to be difficult to traverse, while over 300 feet is considered impassable. The project will repair cracked sidewalks, replace missing bricks, restore tree wells, and ensure ADA accessibility.

Council in the News

Councilors in the Community

"[The City Council is] dedicated not only to progressive policy, but to our community, to listening, to transparency, and to real servant leadership. And that's part of how we fight back," said Councilor Sue AnderBois (Ward 3) at a State House vigil for the January 6th attack on the Capitol. She joined elected officials and community members to reflect on how we can come together to create lasting positive change across our neighborhoods and city.

This month, Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) helped honor Juan Carter, Linda A'Vant-Deishinni, Diana Garlington, and the late Patricia Raub for their unwavering dedication to serving the community. Join us in celebrating the 2026 inductees into the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame!

Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) met with an 8th-grade class from the Wheeler School at the WaterFire Arts Center on Valley Street for a conversation about government and his responsibilities as a councilman. These young people came prepared with thoughtful questions about how government makes decisions and gets things done.

Neighborhood Improvements

February Events Calendar

Do you need help in the neighborhood? Use the city's PVD 311 system as a link to city departments and services. Report issues with:



• animals
• business concerns
• garbage
• health and safety
• housing and building
• lights, signage and traffic signals
• parks
• quality of life
• streets and sidewalks
• tax services
• trees and overgrowth
• vehicles and parking



Log on here to report.

You can also call to connect by dialing 3-1-1 or 401-421-2489, M-F from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or online at providenceri.gov/pvd311.

Providence City Council is the legislative body for Rhode Island's creative capital, serving each of the city's distinct and vibrant neighborhoods. Each Council member advocates for their neighborhood and acts as a liaison between residents and the various departments and services our city offers.

Find your Councilor and learn more about their work.