Uh good evening and welcome to the Previdence City Council on this Thursday, November 6th.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller, present.

Deputy Majority Whip Andrew, present.

Majority Leader Espinal.

Present.

Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Present.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Present.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Present.

Councilor Royus.

Present.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Present.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Present.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas.

President.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Present.

You have 13 present and one absent.

You have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

This evening the invocation will be given by Councilwoman Althea Graves.

Will everyone please rise.

And everyone that's here in this house that is here to fight for the people of this city.

With the Lord's help.

So we need to keep on praying.

We need to keep on searching, and we need to search every corner of our hearts and with all of our strength.

We need to look to the Lord for guidance, and then we need to go out and work to make sure that these people do not be hungry go out there and be hungry.

We need to make sure that our children's uh are fed.

We need to make sure that they have a roof over their heads.

We need to fight, we need to fight, we need to fight.

And with the Lord in our in our corner.

We'll make it through this.

He will not let us fail.

Because if we fail, the city fails.

So I am praying and hoping and looking to all of my colleagues to help give me strength, and I will try to give you something.

We need to stand tall together, and we need to have faith in each other, and we need to have faith in this city.

I will fight for you.

I hope you fight for me, and we all fight for the people.

In the Lord's name I pray.

Amen, amen, and amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

The tonight the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris.

I pledge allegiance to the flag.

United States of America, Republic for which the stands, one nation on the God, indivisible liberty and justice for all.

Madam Clerk, item three.

Item three is election of one member of the retirement board of the employees' retirement system.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Uh, elections are now open for a member of the retirement board of the employees' retirement system.

Majority leader.

Madam President, nine minutes uh nominee James Slombardy the third.

Second president.

There's been a nomination and a second.

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please cast one ballot for uh James Jalen Bardy the third to serve on the retirement board of in the employees retirement system.

So noted.

Item four.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader of item four and move approval.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item four.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Item five.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader item five and six.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on items five or six.

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Uh, Madam Clerk, please refer item five to the committee on finance and six notes as received.

So noted.

Item seven.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reader item seven, substitute and pass for the second time on a roll code vote at amended.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion?

Councilman Anderworth.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Um, I rise um again to support this and also to explain um the amendment you have before you.

Um, colleagues, uh, we spent some time discussing this with the administration to ensure that this is something that could both pass and be implemented in a way that uh worked for our city.

And so there have been a few minor changes um basically with dates.

Um, and so the um we're starting first with uh the city uh phase out um during um the fall period.

Um we're proving and showing to residents and businesses that the city is willing to go first and show that this is something that's possible.

We're following that by the um overall seasonal phase out, which will begin in 2030.

During the earlier phase out, we'll be doing a lot of education as well, and then you'll see at the bottom under violations, there's a change to show that there will be a number of instances of education before enforcement so that folks aren't surprised or or given a uh a find that they're on a that they aren't expecting.

So we really do want this to be something that can be implemented that people are doing, not a gotcha, not uh um not a finger wag, just uh really actually phasing these out for all the reasons you've heard me drone on on at prior meetings, which I won't bore you with today.

Um, we've also changed the um uh department uh to public works.

Um it just makes more sense for the environment department at public works to be handling this than DIS, and um with that, I will not make you have to listen to me any longer, but I hope that you continue to support this.

Um and perhaps even more of you will support it now that the dates have been changed slightly.

Um, and we have uh worked with the mayor on this.

So thank you so much.

I'm looking forward to this being implemented, and I think our neighbors who I hear from really regularly are really looking forward to this, and um, we're gonna be a role model for the whole state.

So thank you.

Thank you, counselor.

Further discussion on item seven.

Uh, Councilman Gonzalps.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to rise to thank my colleague for all of her hard work on this ordinance.

It's been a long time coming.

I've been trying to get this done for a really long time, and ultimately, this is about protecting our air, it's about protecting our peace and our quality of life.

And I know that my constituents are largely supportive of this measure.

We've talked about this in nauseum, but we know that gas-powered leaf blowers are ultimately polluting in our city using a gas-powered leaf blower for an hour is equivalent to 1,100 uh miles in a gas-powered vehicle.

And so this is ultimately about protecting the workers who are um basically inhaling some of these neurotoxic chemicals and the fine particulate matter, and this is a win again for workers for quality of life and for the residents of our city.

And once again, I want to thank Councillor Andrebois and all the members of their committee uh for the due diligence that they did on this ordinance and to make it the ordinance that we have before us today.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion on item seven, councilman Vargas.

Thank you very much, Mr.

President.

I raise again that we have great ideas to create uh a negative business model.

We as create laws and ordinance in this chamber, yes, that benefit the rich people, and benefit the administration when the administration doesn't make no phone calls to the poor people who's surviving by doing this kind of business.

And my point, my idea by doing this is taking the food out of the table, and we are talking about food that we need, especially these people.

Some of them they don't get help from the federal government.

The only hope they get is get a leaf blower and go out there and work and make a day's meat, and then we come back again trying to do this where by giving more time.

Great.

Five years from now, when they go out there to try to survive, they will say, Who put this law here?

Oh, the council.

That's why I'm going boring no in this audience.

I don't want to be in that books that approve something that will uh make no sense or make a negative impact into the community.

Technology is not here yet.

It's coming.

It's coming, but we need to wait for.

And talking about weight, these bodies they weigh more than 15 pounds.

So the leaf blowers is less weight, the gasoline power is less weight.

But remember, if we allow we are agree to for them to charge the bodies in the back outlet that you have for your battery car that you drive, will be great.

I'd be glad to do that if we're ready yet.

But that's a private property.

That's why you're paying to the leaf blowers to do clean your leaves, and you don't want them to go into your property to plug the charger.

Let's be fair.

We're not ready yet.

If the administration is willing to do this, the administration doesn't care about the community, then I'm sorry, that's the truth.

They don't care about the minority, they don't care about the Latino people, and the rest of the people who survive in this.

Thank you, Counselor.

Further discussion on item seven.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye, deputy majority whip Andrew Bois.

Aye, majority leader Espinall.

Aye, senior deputy majority leader Gonzals.

Aye, Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Nay.

Council Arroyas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Nay.

You have nine ayes, three nays, one abstention, one absent.

The motion carries the matters passed for the second time on a roll call vote as amended.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item eight, please.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Wash it the way the reader at an eighth and pass for the second time on a roll call vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item eight.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President.

I really don't need to speak on this uh matter any uh more, but uh I do just want to uh share a lot of gratitude in recognition.

We have some some folks uh here from the community and our our own paraboard uh who've been very supportive of uh these amendments.

Um at the end of the day, this is uh building trust and more accountability as public servants here in the city of Providence.

Um we all have seen and continue to see, unfortunately, the horrific actions by our federal uh administration when it comes to immigration of enforcement.

Um yeah, it's horrendous, and obviously we we can't do everything to stop that, but we can definitely do some things, and this definitely points us in that direction.

Um, our call of uh asking our state uh courts to do virtual hearings is still loud and clear.

That demand is uh very active in the community.

So I would say that that's the next uh measure that we should all be focusing in our attention, energy and using our platforms for.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Counselor.

Further discussion on item eight, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller, aye, deputy majority whip and derbois, aye.

Majority leader Espinall.

Aye, senior deputy majority leader Gonçals, aye, councilwoman Graves, aye, deputy majority leader Harris, aye, Councilwoman Peterson, aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Picardo.

Aye, Council Arroyas, a strong aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

You have 13 ayes, one absent.

The motion carries the matter is approved for the second time on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

And uh thank you so much to everyone who's uh been part of this and is part of many things actively happening in the city right now.

Um item nine, please.

Madam President, majority leader, watching the way the reader of item nine and pass for the second time on a roll call vote.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item nine?

Uh councilman and I just wanted to share that I'm still really concerned that this ordinance is going to create rap problems in our um in our neighborhoods and also penalizes renters at the expense of landlords, and so I'm concerned.

Um we haven't seen any changes or amendments since the last time, and I just I still would just we have real rap problems across the city, and I think this is just going to exacerbate that issue.

So just wanted to put that on the record.

Thank you, Councilor.

Further discussion on item nine.

Hearing none, hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller, aye.

No.

Majority Leader Espinal.

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzales.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Aye.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Pachardo.

Aye.

Council Arroyas.

Nay.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Nay.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

You have 10 ayes, three nays, one absent.

The motion carries the matters passed for the second time on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 10.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Wash it the way the reader 10 and 11.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on items 10 or 11.

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please refer item 10 to the committee on hope and item 11 to the committee on ordinances.

So noted.

Item 12.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Washington Way the reader.

Item 12.

I'm passing a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

At this time, I'd like to ask uh Madam Clerk to please read item 12.

Whereas Patricia Raub was a resident of the 14th ward, and whereas a historian by trade, Miss Raub, documented the early history of Providence Libraries in two journal articles, in addition to her work in and teaching of American studies, popular culture, women's studies, and American history.

And whereas Ms.

Raub was a dedicated advocate for Providence Libraries, being one of the four founding members of the community libraries of Providence and a tireless advocate in person and in print for the support and flourishing of its neighborhood branches.

And whereas Ms.

Raub extended her care and concern, whether by her sympathy and get well soon cards for staff and library associates, or by her constant affirming presence at the library events.

And whereas Ms.

Rao was also a board member and president of the Friends of Wen Skull, as well as co-chair of the Rhode Island Transit Writers and a critical organizer in the Janitors for Justice movement in Providence in 2005.

And whereas Ms.

Rao, having died on October 29th, 2025, is remembered for her kindness, wit, and unwavering dedication, and has created a legacy legible in every branch of the community libraries of Providence.

Now therefore, be it resolved that the Providence City Council recognizes the life and committed advocacy of Patricia Raub.

Be it further resolved that the City Council offers its most sincere condolences to her husband, Rob Goff, her family, her colleagues in library advocacy, and those who were motivated by her civic spirit, be it further resolved that upon passage, copies of this resolution be transmitted to the family of Patricia Raub and to the board of directors of the community libraries of Providence.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Discussion on item 12.

Councilman Peterson.

Thank you.

Um I don't actually know what to say because it's it's it my heart still hurts.

We've also suffered another great loss in the ward today or yesterday, and so it's been a little difficult.

But um the ward did lose a great advocate in the city, did lose a great advocate in Patricia Raub.

And I just today, the one screw, the friends of Wansk Library were meeting right at the same time that we were, or just a little bit earlier, and um I had sent my heartfelt condolences to to the group.

Um, and all I could say was really that Patricia was the quintessential community leader.

Um, she always advocated and supported for the things that needed it most, and her advice her advocacy for our local libraries and our public transport our public transit was actually how I was able to meet her.

And when I knocked on our door and she looked at me, kind of why are you here?

kind of situation when I decided to run.

And um her cheerfulness and her kindness were the things that attracted me to her, and then we when we started talking even more, um about the situation that was happening in our ward and the expansion not only of college but student housing.

Um we found a commonality outside of the other things that she was an advocate for to be able to do more for our community.

If it wasn't for for Patricia, um, we wouldn't have been able to receive the outreach from the Providence Preservation Society to be able to support our endeavor in just calling attention to what was happening in our ward, and I can't thank her enough for everything that she did for us.

Um, like I said, we did lose a really great neighbor, and I my heart goes out to her friends, her groups, um, and her and her family.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Graves.

Um, I knew Patricia for decades.

We have been fighting for years for the library.

She was one of the really strong ones that's just kept going.

She kept plotting, she was a quiet woman, but she had this inner strength.

She could bring a lot of people together and make them feel comfortable and empowered.

Um I remember when we decided to break away from the Providence library and decide to become a community library, and it was because they were closing down so many of the small libraries.

Um every community needs a library.

The libraries are meeting places.

They're not just educational places, but they're places for people to come together to talk to one another, to learn about each other, to learn about the area that they're in.

The library is a second home to so many.

Um and we as a community, um, when we decided to do the community libraries, we still had one that was closed.

We had to get that open.

We had to do so many things to fight for it.

And Patricia was always there.

She got off the board, myself and I both her and myself got off the board because we stayed on that board for a long time.

But when they needed it, we both went back.

I got back off, she got back off, but she went right back.

She was always well loved, she was always well respected.

And she always cared about not just Wanscott, but she cared about the whole city.

She cared about every child in that city.

She cared about all the elderly people.

She cared about the people looking for jobs.

She cared about the people that wanted it, needed a bus pass.

She cared about those that wanted a bike.

She just cared.

And it always came through.

And she never put herself first.

She was always concerned and worried about other people.

You don't meet too many people like that anymore.

It's and she made you feel special.

That was her gift.

That was uh, and not all of us can do that.

You know, not all of us can sit down and talk to somebody and make them feel like they're you're being heard.

She let you know that whatever you were talking about, she was listening.

She would come back and and basically stare and say, Oh, okay, so you want this, you need that, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, well, what can I do?

And she never asked for anything.

She never asked for anything.

She always gave and gave and gave.

And in the few the last few years, she's had several falls.

Um, and that last one I think really took a toll on her.

But even then, if you saw her, she would still be concerned about you.

And like I said, she is definitely gonna be missed.

She was a one of a kind.

And I I don't I really don't have any more, I don't know what else we can say.

I just know that she's up there with those angels because she definitely earned her place in heaven.

A lot of us may not make it there, but she made it there.

That's all thank you, counselor.

Uh Councilman Rayas.

Thank you, Madam President.

I um won't be able to add too much to what my colleagues have said about Patricia Robb.

I mean, I would just say that the obvious is that she was a giant in the city.

Uh, I didn't have the privilege of representing her, and you know, she lived in Ward 14, but you know, my neighborhood uh received the benefits of her being such a staunch advocate of the Wanscook uh public library that Councilor Peterson and I share.

And even, you know, even in her last days um on earth, she she was such a staunch advocate of of our Wandskok library.

Um I think what makes obviously we know why, and much of my colleagues have already stated why public libraries are so important.

I think even now in this current landscape where our institutions are being attacked, and um and libraries provide sort of this free flow of access to information.

Um I can't think enough uh I can't think enough uh of her advocacy around libraries and the benefit plays uh the benefit has in my has had in my neighborhood.

Um and so I wanted to share those thoughts and um you know my my thoughts go out to her family, um, and I just hope that uh we have folks in the city that will carry the torch.

Um and it's gonna be some big shoes to fill, but um it's it's so necessary right now in this moment.

So uh thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, counselor.

Councilman Gonzal.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to thank my colleagues for uh all of their remarks, and I want to thank Counselor Peterson for putting this in.

Um I met Patricia a long time ago, I think when I was 15, was working at the Boys and Girls Club, the actually the Wanska Boys and Girls Club, and I was looking through just impromptu my my emails and just all the exchanges that we've had over the years, and she I think as counselor Roy has articulated, she was really a giant.

And I think one of the things that we all benefited from, I know we've spoken about her her contributions to the community libraries, but just how fierce of an advocate she was for the most vulnerable people in our community.

Uh, particularly her work around Ripta and transit writers.

And I mean, you would see her out there fighting tooth and nail every single day, doing everything that it took uh to make sure that people were taken care of, and you know, we're really gonna miss her.

And I I think it's just it's critical that as a body and just as people we just need to say thank you more because we never know when it's gonna be someone's day, and um if I could look her in the face again, I'd I would I would just say thank you.

Thank you, madam president.

Thank you for the uh councilwoman Annebo.

I'll be quick.

Thank you so much, Madam President, and to all my colleagues who spoke.

Um I just wanted to add, um, so I learned about Patricia's passing from this resolution, which was a kind of a bummer way to find out.

Um, and co-sign everything everyone else just said, but I also wanted to remind folks that this body a few years ago passed a resolution unanimously opposing the moving of the Ripta hub to the what we were calling the Siberia location, and that was entirely due to Patricia Rabb's really calm and rational advocacy and really demanding that if the state wasn't gonna give her a voice, that someone was gonna give her that voice, and she asked the council to do so.

Um, and so our work has been directly influenced by um by her in the last couple years, and um she's such a role model, and um I hope we all told her that while she was alive.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion on item 12.

Hearing none all in favor.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Counselors, I'm gonna do a thing.

I don't do that often and just ask for a point of personal expression.

So I met Patricia Rabb in the 2000s when um there were uh okay, so the janitors who are contracted to clean the buildings in downtown Providence, um, were working at very low wages and very often um because they were the folks who went in to clean when everybody else left downtown.

Um people didn't really know what was going on with them.

Um there was a lot of abusive situations in the workplace, and we knew um that to make a change for them, we were gonna have to make a lot of noise.

Um and in those years uh when I worked with jobs of justice and in in partnership with SEIU and those those workers, we asked people to come out and do so much stuff so many times um in support uh from like fasting in the streets to uh like sleeping out in front of City Hall for several days.

Uh oh, there's a former city counselor I now see in the back who is a big active part of that as well.

Um but that's how I met I was also still a nerd then, so I was like I was like looking, you know, I had known that I had seen this person a few times, a lot of times, right?

And I was looking and I realized that Patricia Robb had not missed a single call that we did um in support of the janitors, and so I brought, I didn't know her, I didn't know her background, I didn't know the kind of organizer or historian she was.

I asked her to come and and and meet and and sit with um some of the workers, and it was like a I mean, like once I talked to her a little bit more, it was amazing.

She was never asked for recognition in any way, was a remarkable human person who um kind of shared in action what solidarity was like, you know, and then in 2009 when the uh main branch of the library was really uh threatening its workers, was threatening the community branches.

I was so proud to stand with her um as we did you know pickets in support of the workers, and I am 100% sure that both the strength of the main branch and the vibrancy of the community branches is because of her dedication and yours, councilwoman and many others.

Um and so I just want to thank everyone for appointing her several times to the uh community library board um and wish all of all of our our thoughts and good wishes to her family and to the board because I know they miss her a lot, but thank you.

Uh item 13.

Madam President, majority leader, washing to weigh the reader or item 13.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 13 hearing none.

Um, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please refer item 13 to the committee on city property.

So noted.

Item 14.

Madam President, motion to weigh the reading item 14 and passing a voice vote.

Second, madam president.

That was uh yeah, may I ask the uh majority leader to withdraw and refer to the case?

I will withdraw and refer.

I withdraw my second.

Okay, so uh motion to uh waive the reading and pass on a and refer to the committee on finance, please.

Right, motion to weigh the reading of item 14 and refer to finance.

Thank you.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on this motion?

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Uh Madam Clerk, please refer item 14 to the committee on finance.

So noted.

Item 15.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Watch it to weigh the reading or writing 15 and pass on a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Madam President, may the clerk read, please.

May you please read item 15, Madam Clerk.

Whereas Eugenio Fernandez Jr., Farm D is a proud son of Providence, a graduate of Classical High School, and a pharmacist practicing in the 11th ward.

And whereas an undergraduate and graduate alumnus of the University of Rhode Island, Dr.

Fernandez owns and operates as thin as an independent pharmacy prioritizing patient education and empowerment.

And whereas, as profiled by the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Providence Journal, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press, among other outlets, Asthenis also functions as a community health hub, providing patients sound information, support and health care access, free immunization services, and health screenings.

And whereas during the COVID 19 pandemic, Dr.

Fernandez partnered with the city alongside more than 100 organizations to provide COVID-19 screenings and to administer 50,000 doses of COVID 19 vaccine, both in Providence and across Rhode Island.

And whereas, commensurate with his belief in systemic change that supports community flourishing, Dr.

Fernandez also sits on a number of boards, including those of Crossroads, Rhode Island, the State of Rhode Island Health Insurance Advisory Council, the Care Transformation Collaborative Rhode Island, and Grow Smart Rhode Island.

And whereas, in conjunction for his considerable and continuing achievement in public health, the Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health has conferred upon Dr.

Fernandez, also an alumnus, its public health innovator award.

And whereas Dr.

Fernandez was presented with the key to the city by former mayor Jorge Alorza in 2022.

And whereas the Providence City Council wishes to convey its sincere gratitude for the work of Dom Dr.

Fernandez, his practice, and of all working diligently in the health professions across Providence.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Providence City Council congratulates Dr.

Eugenio Fernandez Jr.

on his remarkable achievements and celebrates his holistic commitment to the well-being of the residents of Providence.

And be it further resolved that upon passage, copies of this resolution be delivered to Dr.

Eugenio Fernandez and to Esthenas Pharmacy.

Councilwoman, please.

I rise today because many times we have been able to recognize a lot of great leaders around the city of Providence.

That's what's great about being in the position that we're in.

We're able to be able to see and recognize folks that normally we wouldn't know if we wouldn't have been together here and being able to introduce different people.

He I'm gonna mess his name up.

He made that choice deliberately to be where he could care, where the care is needed most.

Day after day, he welcomes every patient with attention, respect, and skill, treating each person not as a number, but as a neighbor, deserving dignity and hope.

Beyond clinical care, Dr.

Fernandez is a teacher.

He takes time to educate patients and families about their health, helping them understand how to manage illness, prevent complications, and assess services.

When barriers arrives, transportation costs and mobility, he and his family have gone the extra mile personally delivering medication for patients who cannot get to the pharmacy.

That is service without fanfare is compassion made practical.

Throughout his career, Dr.

Fernandez has carried himself with a rare combination of professionalism and humanity.

He does not seek attention or praise, yet his work has lifted lives and strengthen our community in ways that deserve public recognition.

When our nation faced immense challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, Dr.

Fernandez step forward again.

He advocated tireless for the poor and the most vulnerable to receive tests and treatments and vaccinations.

In a time of fear and uncertainty, he was steady, persistent and brave, making sure that public health response reach those often left behind.

And for this reason, for choosing to serve where help is most needed, for educate and empowering patients, for delivering care and medicine to the homebound, for leading without human with humility and interrogance, for advocating for equity during the pandemic.

There is no one more fitting to receive the city official recognition that we're doing tonight.

Although Dr.

Fernandez was not able to attend tonight, I ask that his mother and his sister, who are just his strong arm, please stand and be acknowledged by our council members here.

Also delivering medicine, also looking out for patients, also being there with him as a strong binding.

So we really appreciate having uh such a person in our community in our city.

We really appreciate having him and we love him, and the council really appreciates him.

And tonight we will pass this resolution because he's a great man and he deserves it.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

For the discussion on item 15.

Hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

Madam Clerk, item 16.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Why should the way they're reading about item 16 and 17?

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item 16 and 17 hearing.

Oh, Councilman Peterson.

Wasn't quite paying attention.

Um, with regards to um the resolution in number 16, I just wanted to quickly explain um my thought process and the way we got here.

Um I had a lovely group of um mixed age, mixed ward um members of the Providence community reach out and ask um for coffee one day.

And um as I got to know them, none of them by just none of them were for working from my word, but um, one of the things that had come up in that we all shared a commonality about was that we all had some sort of a um of an illness that could at some point um cause us to have accessibility or mobility issues.

And one of the things that they had some camaraderie around was the fact that um while we have many handicapped spaces in our city, sometimes as people continue to utilize their vehicles, the access to being able to utilize a mobility device when coming out of a vehicle is it's much harder.

And so we got to talking.

Um, and I think one of the great things that we were able to kind of rally around was that there was an opportunity here to do some more research to be able to get us to a point um where we could see what we could do about it.

Um, one of the things that I think is really important for us as a as a city is that we um mobilize to meet people where they're at.

We've done a really great job of doing that with this particular council, and I think that we can do so much more in terms of accessibility for our neighbors, um, the tourists that come here, and just in general, for the for the people that utilize the city for a multitude of things.

Uh, but this is just an opportunity for us to do some research to really understand what it would take, and then to hopefully in the future be able to put it in into our community investment plan, which is something that we should absolutely be considering for um all of the improvements that we want for our communities.

So that's it.

I hope you guys support thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion, item 16 or 17 hearing none, all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please refer 16 to the committee on public works and 17 to the committee on finance.

So noted.

Item 18.

Madam President, majority leader.

Why should the weigh the reader of item 18 and we draw at the request of the sponsor?

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion.

All in favor.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Item 19.

Madam President, majority leader.

Why should the way the reader by the 19?

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item 19 hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Uh the motion passes.

Please refer item 19 to the committee on public works.

So noted.

Item 20.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Why should the way the reader of item 20 through 22 and pass for the first time on a roll call vote?

Second.

Any discussion on items 20 through 22.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Is appent Majority Leader Espinall?

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonçalves.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Aye.

Council Arroyas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

And I'm an aye as well.

Sorry, I stepped out for a second.

So noted.

You have 13 ayes, one absent.

The motion carries the matters are approved for the first time on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 23.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What should the way the reader added 23 and send back the committee and ordinance?

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 23?

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Please refer item 23 back to the committee on ordinances.

Item 24.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What's it the way the reader item 24 and 25 and pass for the first time in our roll code vote?

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on items 24 and 25.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Andrebois.

Aye.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Aye.

Council Arroyas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

We have 13 ayes, one absent.

The motion carries the matters are passed for the first time on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 26.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What should the way the reader added 26 and pass on a roll call vote?

Second, Madam President.

You have a motion and a second and discussion on item 26.

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Andrebois.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Aye.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Aye.

Council Arroyas.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Anavargas.

Hi.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

You have 13 ayes, one absent.

The motion carries the matters passed on a roll call vote.

Thank you.

Item 27.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Watch it to weigh the reader at a 27 and pass for the first time in a row quote vote.

Second, Madam President.

Motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 27.

Hearing none.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council President Miller.

Aye.

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Council President Pro Tempore Pichardo.

Aye.

Councilor Royas.

Aye.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas.

Aye.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Aye.

We have 13 ayes, one absent.

The motion carries the matters passed for the first time on a roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 28.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Why should the way the reader out of 28 on deny without prejudice?

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second and discussion.

Chairwoman Ryan.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just rise to offer a point of clarification on the finance committee denied this without prejudice.

We ran out of time to be able to hear him.

We had some scheduling uh issues.

It's no reflection on the candidate on this action actually keeps the appointment live.

And as a matter of fact, we uh already referred this item item five.

It came back in to finance.

So we'll hear it again.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Any further discussion on item 28?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Item 29.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Watch it the way the reader added 29 through 35.

Second, madam president.

Any discussion on item 29 through 35?

Hearing none.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Madam Clerk, item 29 to the committee on ordinances, please.

Uh 30 and 31.

Uh refer to the committee on claims and pending suits.

32, 33 note as received.

34, please refer to the committee on finance and 35 note as received.

So noted.

Thank you.

Item 36.

Madam President, point of personal expression.

Uh Council Sanchez, yeah.

Thank you.

Um, so I'm sure you guys are all very aware.

Um, but I just wanted to rise to uh shine um some attention on this very uh dangerous and unfortunate situation of SNAP benefits uh being on pause uh in our communities.

Um I do want to first start off by recognizing and thanking um the city administration and countless partners across the state of Rhode Island uh for stepping up.

Uh big shout out to our solicitor's office has been very involved uh for filing uh um lawsuits in federal court to try to stop uh to try to um reactivate some of those benefits.

Um you guys are all very aware.

Um I know a lot of you have stepped up in your own communities, uh whether that's with the food bank or the different uh church groups or or different libraries, even the Mount Pleasant Library has a food pantry.

Uh, there's so many opportunities and the demand is high.

Um the really heartbreaking part of it is when you see how many children are affected.

People in our families were struggling um as is before already with the high cost of groceries.

Uh so this pause and this uh uh disaster is decision by our federal government is having real life uh implications uh to a lot of the families in our neighborhood.

Um I I have uh a few families in my neighborhood that have reached out and shared uh very sad stories uh about this that they unfortunately had to pick between food on table or rent this month.

Um people that are living paycheck to paycheck that already in debt with their landlords.

Um so my big ask is to um keep doing what what we can as uh uh local legislative body.

Um I know there's talks uh of um us you know pulling some money for for local resources.

Um so I definitely would like to see something of that nature happen.

The city of Providence has already committed uh 25,000 dollars to the Rail and Food Bank to keep uh that pressure and and that level of assistance and awareness.

Um obviously uh, you know, try to engage as much as possible with our federal delegation when it comes to this issue, uh, because this is really, really unfortunate.

Um I think one and in four of our students in our school district uh rely on this very important benefit.

Um but yeah, thank you, Madam President.

I just wanted it to take some time to elevate this uh very uh pressing concern.

Thank you, Counselor Councilman Gonzals.

Thank you, Councillor Sanchez for saying those uh remarks.

Uh councilman uh point of personal expression.

Yes, and point of personal expression.

And I the reason why I wanted to follow that is because I think that oftentimes people look at the east side as a monolith, and I I do want to let everybody know across the city that there is tremendous need out there.

Uh the number of calls that I've received on this issue and what we're doing to replicate what is happening in Mount Pleasant, and I know uh councilwoman Graves and also uh Councilwoman Ryan, there have been a lot of great things that you've done in your respective wards, and um I just want to give a couple of anecdotes um without sharing too much about these constituents, but you know, when this situation happened and it's it's been unfolding before our eyes uh I've heard from so many people, and these are people in Fox Point, for example, and um one of the things that I'm often very struck by is the fact that even on the east side, you know, people are they're going about their day-to-day and they have no clue that like these people exist in their own backyard.

And I think it's really really important that we continue to elevate their stories because it it's it's really affecting people in in our city.

Uh and uh one anecdote that I want to share too was um so I was speaking to someone about this issue and what we're gonna do at the the Fox Point library to help um set up a food pantry modeled after what's happening in Mount Pleasant, and someone was sharing a story about uh a young child who was basically stuffing food in their backpacks, and they asked the child, like what's the reason for for you doing that?

Like there's plenty of food here, and the child responded, it's for my mom because I don't want my mom to go hungry.

And it's just so heartbreaking to think about what our federal government is doing when people literally cannot put food on the table.

It's dehumanizing, it's incredibly abhorrent, and regardless of where you are in the city, whether it's the east side or the south side, or people who think that the east side is a monolith and everyone has means there.

I just want people to remember that there are people in our community who are being impacted by the cruelty of the federal government and the Trump administration.

And so I want to thank this council, this body, thank our city for stepping up and protecting our people, particularly our most marginalized and vulnerable when they need it most.

And uh I just wanted to share some of those anecdotes because again, I I think we sometimes often forget the amount of need that exists in our community and that the struggle is real.

So thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Uh Councilman Ryas.

Madam President.

Oh, Councilman Ryan's first.

Yep.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, point of personal expression.

So I think this might be the first time I've used that.

Um this is not germane to to snap, but so could I okay?

Point of personal expression.

Thank you.

I just want to just to be sure.

Um I before we conclude tonight, I just uh want to uh mention that there was a tragic uh death in my neighborhood.

Um a resident um of Medcalf courts.

Um his name was Michael uh Damala, and he had um passed away tragically due to a uh what I would describe as traffic violence on Branch Av.

He was 78 years old, and I just think this speaks to um how unprepared and paralyzed we are as a city to really um implement a safety infrastructure uh that our residents have desperately demanded of us.

He was 78 years old, and I just think this speaks to um how unprepared and paralyzed we are as a city to really um implement a safety infrastructure uh that our residents have desperately demanded of us, and um we are so we are so late to the game, and um unfortunately the cost of that is lives, and um it doesn't have to be this way.

Uh this is a result of uh indecisions made by our city, and I'm not blaming any one person and city government as a collective.

We need to get our act together.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the second death in our city related to um traffic violence.

And so I'm sorry on that intersection.

Yeah, and so um my thoughts are with Michael.

I had um attended um his his funeral on Tuesday, and um it's uh devastating.

And so um I just while I have you all in this chamber, I I kind of just want to emphasize that and get your support uh that we really need to make sure that our streets are safe for our pedestrians when it comes to all modes of transportation.

Uh uh our Michael's family deserves that, and everyone and and Michael, Michael deserved to live his last days in peace and safety, and it it it's it angers me uh that this happened.

So um just want to share that before we conclude.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor President Bratem Peterno.

So next question, Madam President, please.

Yes, thank you.

Um I too uh rise to express uh the extreme concern from our community as we've been calling it out that uh we're in the middle of uh tremendous uh storm and hurricane, especially when it comes to relying on the federal government.

And I wanted to uh rise on a couple of things.

One is that commend uh the city of Providence through the administration of uh the mayor and also Mayor Brett Smiley administration, but also the Central Falls uh administration, Maria Rivera and the attorneys that came together and uh put a case to ensure that uh the food stamps uh that are so um important to our communities and the most vulnerable.

And as it was we stood there with uh with the mayor and and with the mayors and others that uh brought the case before uh the federal court uh that afternoon we got the partial news, but we know uh that uh it's only been 10 months, that these things are gonna are gonna continue to test our uh endurance and also our city and our state.

Uh not only our families being affected at every level.

I know we stand up here just like any elected officials and concerned members of our city and our states that we want our families to be taken care of, and particularly when it comes to children.

I rise also uh because uh this another example of not just only vulnerable kids, but also those of us who have family members in the military that continues to struggle as we're going into Veterans Day, which is uh Tuesday, September 13th, and today we're going to be having the ceremony here, is to remind us that we have to continue to stand together to show up.

And we all know that we care.

I often say we all care, we're good people, but we gotta care enough to show up, to show up to things and uh that are important to send a message to our state leaders, to our federal delegation, but also to uh the president.

I don't have to go down that road because we've already known that uh we will continue to fight back as councilwoman Grace was indicating.

That's how we got here to the city chamber.

We have to continue to fight to ensure that our families are stable in our own home through that affordable housing, but also to ensure that these next five or six years are gonna be very difficult for the working family, especially the working poor.

And we all could say our own personal stories.

How we were born poor, we were on Medicaid on food stands.

We sometimes didn't even know that we were on food stands while growing up.

And so those of us who are a little bit more privileged that we have a higher education and that live in a house that we have to ensure that we all show up for one another.

And with that said, Madam President, I also want to uh extend a gratitude of acceptance and their service.

I recently just joined the Lions Club of Providence, which also is the Lions uh uh the Lions uh Club uh International, which is an entity of service to those communities who are vulnerable, they raise money to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

And at this time, I would like to um just call a couple of names that I saw uh that are here that are going to be joining us later on with it with our program for veterans.

Uh we have Luis del Rio, who uh uh served in the in the uh one of our own.

He served 37 years in the province police, and now he's uh been uh providing service continuously in in the Lions Club.

We have Mike Reyes, another fine gentleman in our state, Nelson Val Valdivia, who uh believe he's gonna be joining us, or probably gonna be joining us, who's also a pro uh former Providence Police, um, led by Catherine Ritter Smith, and I I see also uh the doctor uh who provides free eye care service for any child who needs them free throughout our state.

That's what the Lions Club, and I wanted to comment commend them for their service and continuing service and and uh welcome you to the Province City Council Chambers, and that and then lastly, uh to all my colleagues as every year we we we do, at least for the past three years, when immediately after this, we're gonna have a ceremony honoring uh the moment of celebrating those who who serve, the veterans.

Uh, I've always often said that it in our districts, we have a responsibility to all.

And when we see uh veterans who uh have been forgotten to a certain extent, when we see the square, when we see the opportunities that we uh can help them, yes, we don't ask uh were you in the military, were you a veteran so forth?

We just provide the service.

But we all know that we have to keep an eye out for the families and those who are most vulnerable in our city of Providence.

So I I ask you to join us at the end of this program uh for the veteran celebration at 715.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Point of personal expression, please.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Well, first of all, I I um want to extend my condolences to Councillor Roy's constituents and also thank uh Councilman Picharo for putting the uh veteran celebration together.

Uh I also want to second and also support the comments already made by my colleagues pertaining to the situation that we're in today, where there's so many people that are going hungry.

Uh, but I do also want to uh rise to recognize one of my constituents who did something which I think is just exceptional.

And I read it on Facebook, and I think that that's just wonderful.

And this this goes to Sandra Castro, who lives on Carr Street, and I'll read the small Facebook post.

She created a food pantry on her porch in front of her house.

And I see all unique items here that I needed.

And it says uh castry, car street food pantry.

Come and take what you need.

And if you're able to donate, please leave some items.

This is right in front of her house.

So it goes to show that in times of need, necessity and critical times like this, uh, it brings the best out of people.

And I just wanted to highlight her that is very creative, it's very innovative.

And I'm thankful to uh Sandra Castro.

Sorry, she's watching.

Uh I'm really grateful for her.

So thank you, Sandra.

Thank you, majority leader.

Madam President, if I can just have a point of personal expression myself.

Thanks.

I to echo everything that's being said, one of the things that I wanted to do was actually recognize um an organization, but also a community member in my ward who is um always going above and beyond in many different ways.

But this is something that to me is really important as we're discussing all of the things and trying to support our neighbors in the very best way that we can.

Excuse me.

The organization, the Global Fund to End Childhood Hunger and Poverty, founded by Miss Marcia Wrangland Vassal was able to collect money to put to donate to local school food pantries.

And that's something that to me is unbelievably important because we know that our students go to school and sometimes only have those meals.

And much to what my uh colleague had said, so many get need to be able to go home with something because they're looking after somebody or have a family member that doesn't get to benefit from that.

So I just wanted to highlight the most important um, this really important um opportunity that is going to be presented uh to all these schools next week.

And the donation is going to many schools in our neighborhoods, Central High School, Nathaniel Green Middle School, A Venture, Ecubed Academy, Dr.

Martin Luther King, VZ Street Elementary, and Thornton Elementary, all of those schools are going to be able to receive this donation to their food pantry to be able to support our our students and their families there.

So I just wanted to say a big thank you to that to Miss Marcia and also to that board of directors for really helping out and to everybody that donated.

Never quite realize when you're going to need those things immediately.

And it's front and center what we need to do for our communities right now.

So everybody that's pitching in, I just wanted to say a big thank you, especially in my community who they have stepped up in so many ways for all of our neighbors.

I can't thank you enough.

Thank you.

Councilman Graves.

I hate to drag it on.

I too wanna personal expression.

Personal.

I'm sorry, I always forget.

Personal expression.

I wanna give some recognition to just War 12 in general.

At my meeting or right before my community meeting, I had asked people to bring food in to the meeting, and they did.

And we decided to adopt Capital City, food pantry.

We dropped off our first load, and we filled the van, and that was just from one site.

So on Monday, we plan on doing it again.

Smithill Library has stepped to the plate, they always do.

You know.

Wally and Shippy have stepped to the plate, they always do.

Um Mike down at the recreational center have stepped to the plate, always does.

So, but the ones that I really, you know, these are groups of people, but the ones I really want to give recognition to are the ones that are going through something themselves.

Yet they still looked on their shelf and said, okay, I got two boxes of spaghetti.

Let me give this one.

Because we are, we always can recognize the ones that step to the plate or the ones that you know can and I always see there.

But we never recognize those those quiet ones, the ones in the background that that give when they don't have much to give.

And I want to recognize the city as a whole, because I see I see people reaching out.

I see people trying their best to help one another.

And that's what I was trying to get at earlier.

We have to do that.

And the fact that we have enough stories going around here that we can all say about our communities, is fabulous.

And we need to keep doing this because unfortunately, we all know we got a whole nother year of y'all's presidents.

And who knows what other shenanigans he's gonna come up with.

And we just have to be diligent.

But I also want you guys to be aware of other things that are falling, you know, to the wayside.

People are not being, they have this is the time that the PHA and all these other places want to sign those people back up.

Um, and they have to have circuit certain documentation in order for them supposedly to stay in in their apartments.

So we need to make sure that nobody gets kicked out of their apartment because they cannot be certified because they are not getting all the information that they need to be getting from the federal government.

I don't know what we as a city can do um but I've spoken to people at PHA in in um Carroll Towers and Chad Brown I think we all need to just reach out and speak and say look you know what's going on this is the time for us not to be looking for money this is the time for us to be looking out for one another so just keep up the good work and and God bless all that have given because if it's coming from the heart that's when it's really meaningful and it doesn't have to be anything please tell everybody it doesn't have to be a lot of money I gave 500 from the city but you got it all but that's from the city I gotta also give from myself so we need to also look at each within ourselves look at that man in that mirror and say what can I do and continue to do it.

So thank you all thank you councilwoman and councilwoman uh yes okay oh point is a pressure special okay I don't know that yes yes um I know the situation can we have the first time for the senior for everybody but in my community we have the celebration for thank giving I know we have another meeting but I would like it you know because everybody can be together and have a you know very good meal because that's always for the recreation uh the 21st we had the Dank giving dinners in my area in my words so you know anything please we can be together and we can do something bigger and then give me food away and I want to say thank you for the city for the support and the recreation center too.

That's the only I guess thank you counselor councilman really quick point of personal expression and it's just because I just saw him walk in Caleb our city archivist did an amazing job yesterday at our 250 celebration for um America's independent uh anniversary is not the right way to say that but he gave a yeah thank you um but he gave a really wonderful speech after Secretary of State Greg Amore talking about um about the city and our history and I just really wanted to recognize him um since many of us couldn't be there yesterday but I saw him and he he did a really fantastic job so thank you Caleb thank you so much counselor uh item 36 majority leader motion to weigh the remote at a 36 and pass in a voice vote second madam president discussion on item 36 hearing none all in favor aye any opposed any abstentions the motion passes item 37 madam president majority leader what should the way they're reading at a 37 passing a unanimous rising vote second madam president any discussion on item 37 all in favor aye any oppose any abstention the motion passes majority leader and that that's no further business in the calendar tonight we'll be adjourning in the name of Patricia Robes Robert DeMascule William Billy Johnson Willin Glover Jeannie DeLulum long time resident of ward five and a former member of the Democratic city committee for ward five she's also Councilwoman Joanne Ryan brother in law's mother our condolences to all of them motion to adjourn any discussion all in favor aye any opposed we are adjourned please uh stick around and join us for our veteran celebration thank you all