2026-11-05 - City Council Meeting

18:46Good evening and welcome

18:53to the Providence City Council meeting

18:55on this Thursday, November 5th. Madam

18:57clerk, please call the role.

18:59>> Council President Miller,

19:01>> present.

19:01>> Deputy Majority Whip Anderwis,

19:04>> Councelor Davidson,

19:06>> present.

19:07>> Majority Leader Espanol,

19:09>> present.

19:10>> Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzalez,

19:12>> present.

19:13>> Councilwoman Graves is absent. Majority

19:16Leader Harris is absent. Councilwoman

19:19Peterson,

19:21>> Council President Prompor Pardo,

19:24>> President. Councelor Royas is absent.

19:28Councilwoman Ryan

19:29>> present.

19:30>> Majority Web Sanchez

19:32>> present.

19:32>> Councilman Taylor.

19:34>> Councilwoman Anna Vargas.

19:37>> Councilman Oscar Vargas

19:38>> present.

19:40>> You have 12 present and three absent.

19:42You have a quorum. Thank you, Madam

19:44Clerk. This evening, the invitation will

19:46be given by Majority Leader, Councilman

19:48Espanol. Will everyone please rise,

19:50including our guests?

19:51>> Thank you, Madam President. Dear God,

19:54thank you for the opportunity once again

19:56to stand before you to serve the people

20:00of Providence. Grant us the knowledge,

20:03the guidance, and enlightening us to

20:06deliver for the city of Providence and

20:09to our communities. Amen.

20:13>> Thank you. And the pledge of allegiance

20:15will be led by Councilman John Gallals.

20:19I pledge of allegiance to the flag of

20:22the United States of America and to the

20:25republic for which it stands, one nation

20:28under God, indivisible, with liberty and

20:32justice for all.

20:38>> Madame clerk, item three, please.

20:40>> Madam President,

20:40>> Majority Leader,

20:41>> motion to weigh the reading of item

20:43three and move approval.

20:45>> Second, Madam President.

20:46>> Any discussion on that motion?

20:49All in favor?

20:52>> Uh, any nos? Any abstensions? The motion

20:55passes. Item four.

20:57>> Madam President,

20:57>> majority leader.

20:58>> Motion to wear the reader of item four

21:00through seven and pass for the second

21:02time on a roll call vote.

21:04>> Second, Madam President.

21:05>> We have a motion and a second. Any

21:07discussion on items four through seven?

21:11Madam Cler, please call the role.

21:13Council President Miller. I. Deputy

21:15Majority Whip Anderis. I,

21:18>> Councelor Davidson,

21:19>> I,

21:20>> Majority Leader Espanol,

21:22>> I,

21:23>> Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzalez,

21:25>> I,

21:26>> Councilwoman Graves

21:28is absent. Deputy Majority Leader Harris

21:32is absent. Councilwoman Peterson,

21:35>> Council President Prompor Picardo,

21:39>> Councelor Royas is absent. Councilwoman

21:42Ryan,

21:43>> hi.

21:44>> Majority Whip Sanchez,

21:45>> hi. Councilman Taylor.

21:48>> Hi.

21:49>> Councilwoman Honor Vargas. I

21:51>> Councilman Oscar Vargas.

21:53>> Hi.

21:53>> You have 12 eyes, three absent. The

21:56motion carries. The matters are approved

21:58for the second time on a roll call vote.

22:00>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item eight.

22:02>> Madam President,

22:03>> majority leader.

22:04>> Motion to wave the read of it 8 through

22:0611.

22:08>> Second, Madam President.

22:09>> Any discussion on that motion?

22:13>> Hearing none. All in favor? I.

22:16>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

22:19passes. Madame clerk, please refer eight

22:21and nine to the committee on ordinances

22:2410 and 11 to the special committee on

22:27ways and means. So noted item 12.

22:30>> Madam President,

22:31>> majority leader,

22:31>> motion to w the reader of item 12 and

22:33pass in a voice vote.

22:35>> Second, Madam President.

22:36>> We have a motion in a second. Madam

22:38clerk, could you please read item 12?

22:42Whereas Dolores Wuerta, born on April

22:4510th, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, began

22:49her working life as a teacher in the

22:51Sanwaqin Valley of California, where

22:54when confronted with the devastating

22:56poverty endured endured by farm workers

22:59and their families, stated that she

23:01thought she could do more by organizing

23:04farm workers than by trying to teach

23:06their hungry children. And whereas

23:10following her tenure as an organizer in

23:12the Stockton community service

23:14organization where she organized for

23:16improvements in the barios of migrant

23:19workers where co co-founded the national

23:22farm worker association and then when

23:25the largely Filipino Americans of the

23:28agricultural workers organizing

23:30committee walked off the job in 1965

23:34demanding better wages and working

23:36conditions and sparking the don mono

23:38grape strike and boycott wherea forced

23:42joined forces with Filipino workers to

23:44form the United Farm Workers Union where

23:47she served as chief negotiator winning

23:50improvements in pay benefits and

23:53protections against harmful pesticides

23:56becoming a key negotiator of the first

23:58collective bargaining agreements to win

24:00health and benefit plan plans for farm

24:03workers and whereas Werta led nationwide

24:06consumer boycotts of boycots of grapes

24:09and lettuce in the 1970s that

24:12facilitated the economic and political

24:15pressure necessary to bring California

24:17growers to the bargaining table and

24:20spurred California lawmakers to enact

24:22the first law recognizing the right of

24:25farm workers to organize and

24:27collectively bargain the Agricultural

24:29Labor Relations Act in 1975.

24:33And whereas though initially unsung for

24:36her monthsl long lobbying, Werta was a

24:39critical element in the Immigration

24:41Reform and Control Act of 1986,

24:45which made some 2.7 million undocumented

24:48immigrants, 1.1 million of them being

24:52farm workers, eligible for permanent

24:54residency and place them on a path

24:57toward citizenship.

24:59And whereas having been jailed 22 times

25:02for union demonstrating,

25:05subject to marginalization, sexism, and

25:08violence, and surveiled for her work,

25:11Werta was resilient in the face of

25:13opposition and hardship from both within

25:16and without the without the movement,

25:19surviving severe injuries in 1988 while

25:23protesting the opposition of the then

25:25candidate and late former President

25:27George HW Bush. Bush to then ongoing UFW

25:31great boycott.

25:33And whereas Wuerta was also a critical

25:36voice for voting rights, understanding

25:38that political power was essential for

25:40lasting change, she led door-todoor

25:43voter registration drives in rural

25:46communities, helping people overcome

25:48language barriers and voter suppression.

25:51She helped elect elected leaders who

25:54would fight for workers rights. First

25:56volunteering for the Robert F. Kennedy

25:59presidential campaign in 1968 and later

26:02campaigning for presidents Bill Clinton,

26:05Barack Obama and Joe Biden as well as

26:08representatives Ron Delums and Hilda Cis

26:14and whereas Wera was a fierce advocate

26:17for the women's rights championing equal

26:19pay reproductive rights and greater

26:22representation for women in politics

26:25where served as national chair of the

26:2721st first century party in 1992 on the

26:31basis of true ethnic and gender

26:33representation, encouraging Latina

26:36office seekers during her two-year

26:38campaign on behalf of the feminist

26:41majority in anticipation of the 2000

26:43election and endorsing Hillary Clinton

26:46during the 2016 presidential race. And

26:50whereas President Barack Obama bestowed

26:52the nation's highest civilian honor, the

26:55Presidential Medal of Freedom on Dolores

26:57Werta in 2012 for her lifetime of

27:01advocacy on behalf of the underserved.

27:04And whereas Dolores Werta coined the

27:07phrase CE,

27:09which quickly became a rallying cry for

27:12social movements everywhere, inspiring

27:14Barack Obama's 2008 presidential

27:17campaign slogan. and in the spirit of

27:20Yes We Can, remained committed to

27:23community and labor organizing

27:25throughout her life, bravely telling her

27:27story of rape and personal violence in

27:30her last months. All while remaining

27:33steadfastly committed to the principles

27:35and victories that have changed the

27:37lives of untold workers and communities

27:40and inspired many others to organize

27:42together for their civil rights. Her

27:45legacy continues in the work of the

27:47Dolores Werta Foundation for which she

27:50served as president and founder and as

27:53president and founder of the Dolores

27:55Werta Foundation. And whereas where to

27:58having died on October 28th, 2026 at the

28:02age of 96 leaves a legacy of struggle of

28:05solidarity and of great importance and

28:08inheritance of justice to which all

28:11people are joint heirs bearing a

28:13fiduciary duty of advancement. And

28:17whereas the Providence City Council

28:19sincerely desires to memorialize the

28:22long life, tireless advocacy, and

28:25extensive mentorship of a champion of

28:28working people and a friend to

28:30marginalized people everywhere.

28:33Now therefore, be it resolved that the

28:35Providence City Council hereby honors

28:38Dolores Werta on the occasion of her

28:40passing and issues its most sincere

28:43condolences to her family, friends, and

28:46comrades. Be it further resolved that

28:48upon passage, copies of this resolution

28:51be transmitted to the family of Dolores

28:53Werta, the United Farm Workers of

28:56America, and the Dolores Werta

28:58Foundation.

29:00>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. discussion on

29:02item 12. Councilman Sanchez.

29:04>> Thank you, Madam President. I just want

29:05to thank you uh sincerely for uh

29:08submitting this resolution. Uh Dolores

29:11Wera is someone uh who I look up to, who

29:14I look for inspiration in the work that

29:16that I do. Um you know, obviously, uh

29:20she did a lot a lot for for farm

29:23workers. Um she lived her whole life

29:26serving others. um in the recent months

29:30uh you know she came out um with some of

29:33the horrific stuff that she had to to

29:35deal with um behind the scenes. Um so so

29:39not only did she live her life serving

29:41others uh she embraced uh you know that

29:45spirit of just getting the work done um

29:48while at the same time unfortunately uh

29:50enduring um horrific things herself. Um,

29:54so I just want to, you know, stand here,

29:57um, and honor her work, uh, continue the

30:00work that that her and alongside

30:02hundreds of other people have done, uh,

30:05for the masses of people when it comes

30:06to workers rights, uh, when it comes to

30:09women liberation, uh, women rights, uh,

30:12voting. She she's just tremendous amount

30:14of work. uh we could sit here all night

30:16and honor the the legacy uh but most

30:19importantly, you know, continue and and

30:21build off that and and inspire others

30:23just like she did. Um so so in in her

30:26memory, uh Cisa Pue,

30:29>> thank you counselor. Further discussion

30:31on item 12.

30:32>> Madame President,

30:34>> President Prom Pichardo.

30:36>> Thank you, Madam President. I also too

30:38rise and thank you for putting this

30:40forward and as a uh co-sponsor of this

30:45um resolution in honor of Dolores

30:47Wuerta, someone that I've uh met uh

30:51several times um and during the times of

30:55growing up uh and believing that we all

30:58can and the rights of of farm workers

31:01but also the immigrant community. and

31:04over the years uh was overshadowed by uh

31:08the movement but also uh by uh Cesar

31:12Chavez uh that they both and many people

31:17uh started the movement of making sure

31:19that the immigrant and especially the

31:22farm workers um had rights. And

31:25throughout the years uh as she

31:30stepped up even more so uh at the level

31:33of the coalitions of

31:37members of the general assembly

31:39throughout the country uh informing us

31:42and educating us on the the power of the

31:46people and many times under the National

31:51Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators

31:53through her efforts and a represent

31:55representative uh from Arkansas uh by

31:58the name of Deia Garcia really took her

32:02uh her mission and made it that it was

32:06Dolores Huerta's movement to create the

32:08woman empowerment and uh you know we

32:11just came off the Hispanic Heritage

32:14Month and it was fitting that throughout

32:17that month she was celebrated and while

32:20she uh passed away her legacy will

32:23continue and Deia and and the sisterhood

32:26and all of us in the Hispanic community

32:28and the movement uh throughout uh the

32:32country and internationally. she will be

32:34known as that person that uh needs to be

32:37and will continue to be honored as Cis

32:40pue but uh yes we have done it and it

32:43was because of her message and her will

32:46to make sure that as a as a as a woman

32:50as a mother as a grandmother really made

32:52it uh possible for all of us. So thank

32:55you may she rest in peace. Thank you,

32:58Prom. Further discussion on item 12

33:02hearing none. All in favor?

33:04>> I.

33:04>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

33:07passes. Item 13.

33:09>> Madam President,

33:10>> majority leader motion to wear the

33:11reader of item 13.

33:16>> Any discussion on item 13?

33:19>> Hearing none. All in favor?

33:20>> I

33:21>> opposed abstensions. The motion passes.

33:24Madame clerk, please refer item 13 to

33:26the committee on her. So noted. Item 14.

33:29>> Madam President,

33:30>> majority leader,

33:31>> motion to w the read of item 14 and 15

33:33and pass on a voice vote.

33:36>> We have a motion and a second

33:38discussion.

33:39>> Promo.

33:40>> Yes, madam president. Uh this resolution

33:43before you uh members of the city

33:45council is to um us in the city of

33:48province asking uh the uh the department

33:52the US department of commerce and the US

33:55uh census bureau to withdraw their

33:57proposed changes to the 20 uh 30 uh

34:01denial census residency criteria and

34:04demographic questions and extend the

34:07public comment period to 90 days. uh

34:12right now before uh these departments uh

34:15they're trying to change the rules to

34:18exclude people especially uh immigr

34:22populations and so I have submitted a

34:25letter uh to extend the period of

34:28comment uh for uh throughout the country

34:32that this is the wrong approach and the

34:34reason why we're asking this is that we

34:37know that the census once it's taken It

34:40counts every person whether they are

34:43residents, permanent residents, everyone

34:46gets counted. And throughout this uh

34:48policies that are being uh trying to be

34:52to implement it, they're trying to take

34:54away uh that uh right for cities and uh

34:59states to actually be counted. And at

35:01the end when we lose population we also

35:05lose uh number of people and also

35:08federal funds and the services that we

35:11can provide to our residents in our

35:13cities in our states. And so this

35:16resolution is asking uh for again the US

35:20Department of Commerce and the US Census

35:22Bureau to withdraw the proposal but also

35:24to extend the period comment uh for

35:28another 90 days. Thank you.

35:31Thank you, Prom. Further discussion on

35:34items 14 or 15.

35:39All in favor?

35:40>> I.

35:41>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

35:44passes. Item 16.

35:46>> Madam President,

35:47>> majority leader motion to wave the

35:49reading of item 16.

35:51>> Second, Madam President.

35:52>> Any discussion on item 16? All in favor?

35:57>> I.

35:57>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

35:59passes. Madam clerk, please refer 16 to

36:02the special committee on hope.

36:03>> So noted. Item 17.

36:05>> Madam President,

36:06>> majority leader,

36:07>> motion to w the reading of item 17 and

36:09pass in a voice vote.

36:11>> Second, Madam President.

36:12>> We have a motion and a second

36:13discussion. Counciloman Ryan.

36:15>> Thank you, Madam President.

36:18Um, I rise on item 17. I'm pleased to

36:21introduce the resolution that is before

36:23us tonight authorizing the city of

36:26Providence to enter into a friendship

36:29pact with Air Scotland. A partnership

36:31born out of an ex extraordinary summer

36:34of international soccer, warm

36:37hospitality, and lasting friendships.

36:40This summer, Providence welcomed more

36:42than 150,000 visitors from around the

36:45world through the tremendous success of

36:47our Providence fan zone, bringing the

36:50excitement of FIFA World Cup to the

36:53heart of our city. Over 39 remarkable

36:56days, Providence showcased its vibrant

36:59culture, hospitality, and local

37:01businesses on the international stage.

37:04Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Mayor

37:06Smiley and the collaboration of our

37:08department of art, culture, tourism,

37:12public safety teams, go providence, our

37:14tourism partners, and local businesses.

37:17The fan zone was an extraordinary

37:20success. Among our visitors were

37:22thousands of passionate Scottish soccer

37:25fans. Welcomed through a partnership

37:28with a Scottish tartan army organizers.

37:32They brought tremendous energy to our

37:34city, generally donated generously

37:37donated thousands of dollars to our

37:39children's hospital and delivered a

37:41meaningful economic boost to our

37:43restaurants, pubs, hotels, and small

37:46businesses. They came to Providence for

37:49the World Cup, but they left left with

37:52something far more lasting, a genuine

37:54connection to our city and the people

37:56who welcomed them. What makes this story

38:00particularly special is what happened

38:03next. When these fans re returned home

38:06to Scotland, they carried their

38:08enthusiasm for Providence with them. So

38:11meaningful was their experience that

38:13they encouraged their local government

38:15to establish a formal friendship between

38:18our Scotland and Providence. Today, that

38:22enthusiasm has grown into a shared

38:25commitment with committees formed on

38:27both sides of the Atlantic to explore

38:30opportunities to strengthen tourism,

38:33foster educational and cultural

38:35exchanges, and encourage economic and

38:38business development. What began as a

38:41celebration of SAK has become an

38:43opportunity to build a lasting

38:45international partnership. This

38:48friendship pack is about more than

38:50commemorating an extraordinary summer.

38:52It is about building on the goodwill

38:54created through personal connections and

38:57opening doors for our residents, our

39:00students, our businesses, and future

39:02generations.

39:04It is also a reminder that some of the

39:06most meaningful international

39:08relationships begin not in government

39:10offices but through personal connection

39:13connections, shared experiences and the

39:16simple acts of kindness. The World Cup

39:19brought us together. The hospitality of

39:22providence creating lasting friendships

39:25and today we have an opportunity to turn

39:28those friendships into a lasting bond

39:30between our two communities. I ask my

39:33colleagues to support this resolution

39:35and extend my sincere thanks to Mayor

39:38Smiley, our city staff, Go Providence,

39:40our tourism partners, local businesses,

39:43and everyone who helped make this

39:45remarkable relationship possible. May

39:48this friendship mark the beginning of

39:50many years of cultural exchange, shared

39:53opportunity, and enduring goodwill

39:55between Providence and Air Scotland.

39:58Thank you, Madam President.

39:59>> Thank you, councelor. Further discussion

40:01on item 17

40:04hearing none. All in favor?

40:06>> I.

40:07>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

40:10passes. Madam clerk, item 18.

40:13>> Madam President,

40:14>> majority leader.

40:15>> Motion to weigh the reading of item 18

40:17and 19 and pass for the first time at a

40:19roll call vote.

40:20>> Second, Madam President.

40:21>> We have a motion and a second. Madam

40:23Clerk, please call the role.

40:27>> Council President Miller.

40:30I

40:31>> Deputy Majority Whip Anderwis.

40:33>> Hi,

40:34>> Councelor Davidson.

40:35>> I

40:36>> Majority Leader Espanol.

40:38>> Hi,

40:39>> Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzalez.

40:41>> Hi.

40:44>> What was that?

40:45>> I

40:45>> Thank you.

40:47>> Councilwoman Graves is absent. Deputy

40:49Majority Leader Harris is absent.

40:52Councilwoman Peterson,

40:53>> hi.

40:54>> Council President Prompor Picardo,

40:57>> hi. Councelor Royas is absent.

41:00Councilwoman Ryan,

41:02>> hi.

41:03>> Majority Web Sanchez,

41:04>> hi.

41:05>> Councilman Taylor,

41:06>> hi.

41:07>> Councilwoman Anna Vargas.

41:09>> Councilman Oscar Vargas.

41:12>> You have 12 eyes, three absent. The

41:14motion carries. The matters are approved

41:16for the first time on a roll call vote.

41:19>> Thank you, Madam Clerk.

41:22>> Item 20. Madam President,

41:25>> majority leader motion to w the reading

41:26of item 20 through 25 and pass on a

41:29voice vote.

41:30>> Second, Madam President,

41:31>> any discussion on items 20 through 25?

41:34Chairman Vargas.

41:36>> Thank you very much, Madam President. Uh

41:39I raise to

41:41very positive in these u items

41:46now that we have little issues with

41:48storm waters that every drop that came

41:51from the sky goes into the street.

41:54And uh we want to have this

41:57agreement with the state that they will

42:01do all this work and they will maintain

42:03it and they will pay for. It's a win-win

42:05for the taxpayers that they don't have

42:07to

42:09spend money to do this and I want to say

42:12thank you to all my colleagues for

42:14supporting this and for your support and

42:17vote. Thank you.

42:19>> Thank you chairman. Further discussion

42:2120 uh through 25.

42:24All in favor?

42:26>> I.

42:26>> Any opposed? Any abstensions?

42:30The motion passes. Madam clerk, item 26.

42:34>> Madam President,

42:34>> majority leader,

42:36>> motion to weigh the reading of it 26 and

42:3827 and lay on the table.

42:43>> Any discussion on 26 or 27?

42:46>> Yes, Madam President.

42:49chairman. Um,

42:50>> thank you very much.

42:54Is going to be laid down the table until

42:58we figure out some little

43:00misunderstanding between

43:03the

43:05PC and the council women Charlie

43:09Pearson, they they will get in touch and

43:14we will proceed with this as soon as

43:17possible.

43:19Thank you.

43:21>> Thank you. Further discussion on 26 or

43:2327

43:25hearing. None. All in favor?

43:27>> I.

43:28>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

43:30passes. Item 28.

43:33>> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Madam clerk,

43:35please lay 26 and 27 on the table.

43:38>> So noted.

43:39>> Thank you. Item 28.

43:41>> Madam President,

43:42>> majority leader.

43:43>> Why should it weigh the reading of 28

43:44through 41?

43:47Second, Madam President.

43:48>> Any discussion on items 28 through 41?

43:54>> Hearing none. All in favor?

43:56>> I.

43:56>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

44:00passes. Madam clerk, please refer 20

44:02point of Madam President.

44:04>> We're going to I'm going to refer the

44:05items and then I will call on you.

44:07That's okay. Madam clerk, please refer

44:0928 and 29 to the committee on

44:10ordinances. 30 to claims and pending

44:13suits 31 through 41. Note as received.

44:17>> So noted. Councilwoman Peterson.

44:19>> Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to

44:21take a point of personal expression to

44:23talk a little bit about uh the

44:25occurrences in my neighborhood um over

44:28the past weekend, Halloween weekend.

44:31Uh good evening, colleagues. I wanted to

44:33take a moment to address what happened

44:34in my neighborhood over Halloween

44:36weekend because quite frankly, I am

44:38angry.

44:40And I know that I am not alone. The

44:42residents of Ward 14 are extremely

44:44angry. They're exhausted and they're

44:46tired of feeling like the concerns their

44:48neighbor of their neighborhood are

44:50continually being dismissed.

44:53Over Halloween weekend, approximately 30

44:55individuals were arrested in the area

44:57surrounding Providence College following

44:59parties that began in the student

45:00housing area and escalated into

45:02significant public safety issues.

45:05Among those arrested were six juveniles.

45:09Importantly, those arrested were local

45:11individuals. As the college mentioned,

45:13none were Providence College students.

45:16Those social hosts responsible for

45:18starting the parties and creating the

45:20situations that caused said arrests

45:23weren't held responsible and they never

45:25are.

45:27This is not an isolated instident.

45:30I've talked about this for the last four

45:32years at Nauseium and this is precisely

45:35the problem. Last year, we experienced

45:38another significant incident where a

45:40pop-up party brought more than a

45:41thousand young people into the same

45:43general area, creating public safety

45:45concerns again and leaving residents to

45:48deal with the aftermath.

45:50I can't forget to mention the seven PC

45:53students who overdosed on Lee Street in

45:55my neighborhood last December. These are

45:58common occurrences in my neighborhood

46:00now.

46:01We've had meeting after meeting,

46:03conversations with police, conversations

46:05with the administration, conversations

46:07with property owners, and repeated

46:09assurances that things will improve. And

46:11yet, here we are again.

46:14And I think it's time we have a larger

46:16conversation around accountability,

46:19privilege, and the unequal burden being

46:22placed on the residents of Ward 14.

46:25There's a growing sense of entitlement

46:27surrounding the student housing area.

46:29There is an expectation that because

46:31Providence College is an established

46:32institution, because it has an economic

46:34presence in our city, and because its

46:36students and their families contribute

46:38financially to the surrounding rental

46:39market, the neighborhood should simply

46:42accommodate

46:43whatever comes with that.

46:46And sorry, not sorry, that's not how

46:48this works. The most prominent landlord

46:51rents these properties and clearly

46:53benefits financially from the student

46:54population. They charge premium rents

46:57for homes in this area. particularly on

46:59streets like Eaton Street. They even

47:02provide a cleanup service that comes 48

47:04hours after to pick up the trash left

47:06due to the parties, which by the way is

47:07also a violation of ordinance. The

47:10institution benefits from its presence

47:11and its ability to expand. Yet, the

47:14people who actually live in these

47:15neighborhoods, raise their children

47:17here, maintain their homes, and have

47:19invested decades of their lives here are

47:22the ones being asked to absorb the

47:24consequences.

47:25That is fundamentally unfair.

47:28And I want to be clear, for the 100th

47:31time, this is not about being against

47:33college students. It is not about

47:36preventing young people from enjoying

47:37their college experience. It is not

47:40about suggesting that every student is

47:41responsible for what happened. But

47:43[snorts] it is about expectations. It's

47:45about responsibility. And it's about

47:47recognizing that a college campus does

47:49not exist in isolation from the

47:51community around it.

47:53The residents of Ward 14 are not an

47:55extension of Providence Colle's campus.

47:57We are not an extension of its housing

48:00operations and we are certainly not

48:02responsible for managing the behavior of

48:03its students or the young people its

48:06presence attracts to our neighborhood.

48:08That responsibility needs to be shared

48:10and it needs to be taken seriously.

48:13This week I communicated a letter to the

48:15chief of police about my expectations

48:17for how these situations need to be

48:18addressed. I expect an appropriate

48:21public safety response, consistent

48:22enforcement, and meaningful action when

48:24properties are repeatedly associated

48:26with nuisance activity.

48:28But this goes beyond the police

48:30department. It goes beyond one weekend,

48:33one party, one landlord. It's time for

48:36the college to recognize that it has a

48:38responsibility to the surrounding

48:39neighborhood that extends beyond its

48:40property lines. [snorts] Good faith is a

48:43two-way street. We cannot continue to

48:46extend that goodwill while the very

48:48residents I represent are repeatedly

48:49left to deal with consequences of an

48:51ongoing problem that the institution has

48:53yet adequately addressed.

48:58These cannot be afterthoughts any

49:00longer. They must be part of the

49:02institution's plan for operating in our

49:04community.

49:06I want to make one last point.

49:08We have spent years trying to build

49:10relationships, find common ground and

49:12work collaboratively collaboratively

49:14with the college. I do believe in those

49:17partnerships. I believe our institutions

49:19can be tremendous assets to our

49:20neighborhoods. But partnership cannot

49:23mean that one side continuously makes

49:25concessions while the other side

49:26continues business as usual. I represent

49:29the residents of Ward 14. My

49:31responsibility is to them, not to the

49:33college's expansion plans, not to the

49:35financial interests of landlords, and

49:37not to the convenience of an institution

49:38that has resources and capacity to do

49:40better.

49:43We want Providence College to be a good

49:45neighbor, and they need to start acting

49:46like one. We can do this collaboratively

49:48and effectively now. We can acknowledge

49:51what has happened, establish

49:54expectations going forward, develop said

49:56plan, and move forward with a

49:58relationship built on mutual respect for

50:00my neighbors.

50:02[clears throat]

50:04Or we can spend the next four years

50:06fighting over every proposal, every

50:08fight, every expansion, every request

50:10that comes before this council.

50:13The residents of Ward 14 have been

50:15extremely patient. They have attended

50:17meetings. They have made calls. They

50:19have filed complaints. They have tried

50:21to work through all the appropriate

50:23channels. They have done their part. Now

50:26it's the pro it's Providence Collegeg's

50:28turn. Thank you.

50:31>> Thank you, councelor. Item 42.

50:34>> Madam President,

50:35>> majority leader.

50:36>> Motion to w the reading of item 42 and

50:38pass in a voice vote. Second, Madam

50:41President.

50:41>> All in favor?

50:43>> I.

50:43>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

50:46passes. Item 43. Madame President,

50:48>> Majority Leader,

50:49>> motion to wave the reading of item 43

50:51and pass in a unanimous rising vote.

50:59>> All in favor?

51:00>> I.

51:01>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

51:04passes.

51:05>> Madam President,

51:06>> Majority Leader,

51:07>> wish you to suspend rule 16B of the

51:10rules of the city council in order to

51:12take a matter not appearing in a printed

51:15docket.

51:17Any discussion on that motion? All in

51:20favor?

51:21>> I.

51:22>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion

51:24passes. Item 44.

51:26>> Madam President,

51:27>> majority leader

51:28>> motion to wave the reading of item 44.

51:32>> Discussion on item 44 hearing. None. All

51:35in favor?

51:36>> I.

51:36>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

51:38passes. Please, Madam Clerk, note item

51:4044 as received.

51:41>> So noted. Madame President,

51:43>> Majority Leader,

51:45>> that's no further business in the

51:46counter.

51:46>> Madam President,

51:47>> motion to adjourn.

51:50>> We have a motion and a second. Any

51:52discussion?

51:53>> All in favor?

51:54>> Yes.

51:55>> Uh we are adjourned. Uh President Prom,

51:58please extend an invitation for 7 p.m.

52:03>> Thank you, Madam President.

52:05uh extending the invitation to all our

52:07our colleague members as they are

52:09exiting or out of meetings to the

52:11Providence Veterans Ceremony and

52:13celebration in honor of Veterans Day

52:15honoring all who served our colleague,

52:18former colleague uh and veterans uh that

52:22have served our city, but most

52:23importantly also uh the former judge uh

52:27Francis uh as known as Frank Darrian Jr.

52:30will be here with us among other

52:32veterans in in our community. It is

52:35starts immediately after our session at

52:377 p.m. Thank you.

52:38>> Thank you. Pro time and counselors,

52:40please do stick around, have some food,

52:41stick around for seven. Thank you,

52:44>> Michael.

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