Providence City Council Meeting | July 11th 2024

July 11, 2024

Item 30: Honorary Street Designation for Mr. Lemon Place

00:00 - 01:47

Council members discussed and voted to approve a resolution honoring the legacy of Eileen and Joseph Rayo by ceremonially renaming Hawkins Street as Mr. Lemon Place. The item was formally referred to the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning.

Items 31 and 32: Alice Brown Memorial Way and Resolution on Unhoused Rights

01:47 - 09:51

The council reviewed Item 31 to establish the Alice Brown Memorial Way honorary designation on Chad Brown Street, and Item 32 condemning a Supreme Court decision regarding unhoused individuals sleeping on public property. Both items were passed following discussion by the council members.

Recess and Recognition of Honorees

09:51 - 29:29

The council entered a temporary recess to celebrate and present citations to the families of Sergeant McCloud, Mr. Lemon, and Alice Brown, alongside Judge Caprio. Council members reconvened following the celebrations to continue the regular agenda.

Item 33

29:29 - 29:57

The council approved a motion to waive the reading of Item 33 and passed the item on a voice vote. The matter was subsequently referred to the Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal, and Planning.

Items 34 through 36

29:57 - 31:02

The council voted to waive the reading of Items 34 through 36 and passed them for the first time. The motion was approved via a roll call vote with 13 affirmative votes and 2 members absent.

Items 37 through 43: Urban Redevelopment Planning Resolutions

31:02 - 38:11

Council members discussed several committee-approved resolutions celebrating local history, including Cape Verdean heritage, Angelo's restaurant, and educator Carl Laura. The council voted in favor of passing Items 37 through 43 on a voice vote.

Items 44 through 48: Committee Referrals and Communications

38:11 - 38:54

The council waived reading for Items 44 through 48 and approved the motion on a voice vote. Item 44 was referred to Public Works, Item 45 to Claims and Pending Suits, and Items 46 through 48 were noted as received.

Point of Personal Expression: Staff Recognitions

38:54 - 40:34

Council leadership welcomed new policy team staff member Isabella Moratore to the city council team. They also honored departing staff member Parker Gavigan for nearly three years of dedicated service to the City Council.

Item 49

40:34 - 40:48

A motion was made to waive the reading of Item 49 and pass it on a voice vote. The council voted in favor and the motion carried without opposition.

Item 50

40:48 - 41:14

The council considered Item 50 and approved a motion to waive the reading. The resolution was adopted via a unanimous rising vote.

Adjournment in Memoriam

41:14 - 41:42

The council moved to adjourn the meeting in memory of Cedric Huntley, John Leo, and Daniel Falara Yuma. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously by voice vote.

Unknown

00:00 - 00:37

Or with nothing but roar determination, they launched a frozen lemonade stand that grew into a Rhode Island icon. When Joseph passed in 1986, Aileen and her children, Joseph, Colleen, and Janice who are here today stepped up and turned mister Lemon into a community powerhouse in province's North End. They did... They didn't just sell lemonade, they create a family with their customers. Eileen or Mama Lemon as we fondly know her recently left us at 94, but her legacy of joy and refreshment lives on.

Unknown

00:38 - 01:06

As mister Lemon hits its fifth... Fiftieth year, I'm proud to introduce this resolution to rename Hawkins Street as mister Lemon Place, ensuring D'Reio legacy stays alive. So colleagues in those... In these chambers tonight, join me in honoring the grit and spirit of Aileen and Joseph Rayo and their children. Their story etched into our city's history, and it's time we celebrate that in a big way.

Unknown

01:06 - 01:08

Thank you very much.

Unknown

01:08 - 01:27

Thank you, counselor. Any further discussion on item 30? All in favor? Aye. All opposed?

Unknown

01:27 - 01:35

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Thank you and congratulations and please do stay with us for a few more minutes. Item 31.

Unknown

01:35 - 01:37

Madam President? Majority I'm sorry.

Unknown

01:37 - 01:47

Can you refer item 30? Yes, thank you. Please refer item 30 to the Committee on Urban Redevelopment Renewal and Planning. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. So noted.

Unknown

01:47 - 01:48

Item 31 please.

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01:48 - 01:49

Madam President.

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01:49 - 01:50

Majority Leader.

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01:50 - 01:58

Motion to waive the reading of items thirty one and thirty two and pass on a voice vote and have the clerk read item 31 into the record.

Unknown

01:58 - 02:02

Second, madam president. We have a motion and a second. Madam clerk, please read item 31.

Unknown

02:04 - 03:40

Whereas Alice Brown was a lifelong activist devoting many decades of her life to serving various Providence community based organizations, all for the betterment of the lives of the most disadvantaged in her community. Whereas Alice was born in Warwick, Rhode Island in 1930 and moved to Providence with her six children in the mid nineteen sixties where aside from a few years living in Virginia, she lived until her passing in 2023. Whereas when Alice wasn't spending time with her family, she was busy serving her community through volunteer work, volunteering at seven different organizations and charities over the years, including thirty four years at Providence Head Start and fourteen years at the Rhode Island Food Bank and the government surplus commodities at Smith Hill and Chad Brown simultaneously. Whereas Alice was also an active member of many housing organizations in Providence, serving on the Providence Housing Authority at Chad Brown as a resident for twenty one years, the Chad Brown Tenants Association for nineteen years, and the Eastern Regional Tenants Organization for fourteen years. Whereas her charity work didn't end there though, and most notably, she spent forty years as a board member of Providence's Head Start organization, twenty years at Chad Add Sun Community Center, and was also the board chair of Chad Brown Health Center for twelve years until her retirement in 2006.

Unknown

03:41 - 05:02

Whereas Alice was a staunch advocate for the disadvantaged and spoke out for those who had no voice in her community so they could be heard regardless of their age, race, or gender. Whereas Alice dedicated her life volunteering for her community to make the lives of those in Providence better and will be remembered fondly for the difference her advocacy made, especially for the young and elderly in her community. Now therefore be it resolved that the city council of the city of Providence wishes to honor the life, career, and legacy of Alice Brown by establishing a ceremonial designation along Chad Brown Street as Alice Brown Memorial Way Honorary Designation. Be it be it further resolved Be it further resolved that the city council request that the Department of Public Works work to manufacture, install, and maintain one or more honorary signs at prominent and appropriate locations, which shall reflect the Alice Brown Memorial Way honorary designation, and be it finally resolved that upon passage copies of this resolution be sent to the family members of Alice Brown.

Unknown

05:15 - 05:19

Counselors, discussion on item 31 or 32. Councilor Reyes.

Unknown

05:20 - 05:48

Madam president, the North End is in the chambers tonight. Today, I rise yet again to champion a formidable woman whose impact on our community resonates deeply. The late miss Alice Brown was more than a province resident. She was a relentless force, tirelessly advocating for those living on the margins in our city. Though I never met miss Brown, her legacy spans decades defined by a strong dedications...

Unknown

05:48 - 06:31

Dedication to social justice. Miss Alice Brown refused complacency from volunteering at the province head start to leading a Chad Brown Health Center, she embodied activism and community service. Her commitment transformed lives across neighborhoods, notably the North End. Today, we propose naming Chad Brown Street, June Street in honor of miss Alice Brown, not as a mere symbolism, but as a testament to her legacy of compassion and resilience. Alice Brown Memorial Way will inspire future generations, in in this city to wield their influence for positive change.

Unknown

06:32 - 06:58

And so let us not only honor miss Alice Brown's memory, but also uphold her values. Let's amplify voices, let's pursue equity, and continue her transformative work. So madam president, colleagues, today we celebrate a remarkable life and ensure Alice Brown's spirit endures on our our city streets forever and ever. Thank you.

Unknown

07:08 - 07:14

Thank you counselor. Further discussion on items 31 or 32, councilman Sanchez.

Unknown

07:14 - 07:55

Thank you madam president. Today I rise to speak on item number 32, but before I do that I just wanna give, the recognition to my colleague, for highlighting, the wonderful people of of Providence. A lot of people speak about what's great about Providence and there's definitely a lot of cool restaurants and good sight scenes in the schools and and whatnot but the best treasure that we have to offer is the people and my colleague did that perfectly well today so so thank you councilman Royas. Today I rise to speak on item number 32. Item number 32 is a resolution condemning a recent supreme court decision.

Unknown

07:56 - 08:59

This decision came from a lawsuit out on the West Coast. There's a municipality out there that is trying to legalize arresting and and finding by by our unhoused community for sleeping on on public property. So this is something that is truly scary, it's very inhumane, very evil, something that every local municipality should be aware of and speaking against. Luckily here in the providence, our administration doesn't necessarily do that. I think we do have a lot of work to do as a city, city council, mayor's office, province police department when it comes to interacting with our unhoused community and that's something that I've committed to to work on with all of you and our external partners because this is something that unfortunately is gonna get worse before it gets better because of the housing crisis that we're currently in.

Unknown

08:59 - 09:32

But this sends a strong message that we, the city of Providence, do not believe or think it's appropriate to put unhoused folks in jail or even give them a fine because that just keeps them in the system and once someone's in the system, it's really hard to to move forward. We should look at trauma enforced empathetic solutions because at the end of the day, our unhoused community is very much a part of our community and that's something that we should strive to always improve and and do better as a city. Thank you madam president.

Unknown

09:32 - 09:42

Thank you councilor. Further discussion on items 31 or 32? All in favor? All opposed? Any abstentions?

Unknown

09:42 - 09:51

I abstain from item 32 please. Okay. Thank you. Any further abstentions on either item? The motion passes.

Unknown

09:51 - 10:07

Okay counselors, I would like us to take a short recess at this time so that we can congratulate all of the wonderful people that councilor Roy has brought in to celebrate with us tonight. I would suggest that we... Go in order? Exactly.

Unknown

10:07 - 10:15

We'll do sergeant McCloud's family first and do the family of mister Lemon and do miss Alice Brown's family third.

Unknown

10:15 - 10:19

Sounds beautiful. Okay. And of course, judge Caprio. Yes. Thank you.

Unknown

28:38 - 29:10

Guests, we're gonna resume our meeting now. Okay. Thank you so much, councilor Royas, for bringing us... Bringing bringing the city to us tonight.

Unknown

29:13 - 29:14

What happened?

Unknown

29:14 - 29:28

What a great job. I believe we are missing one councillor, but I think that we... Nope. Yep. One councillor and our city solicitor, but I believe that we could continue on with item number 33.

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29:29 - 29:31

Madam president. Majority Leader Taylor.

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29:31 - 29:34

Motion to waive the reading of item 33.

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29:34 - 29:44

Second member president. Okay, we've got a motion and a second on item 33. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye.

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29:44 - 29:57

Any opposed? Any, abstentions? Hearing none. Item 33, the motion passes. Please refer it to the Committee on Urban Redevelopment Renewal and Planning.

Unknown

29:57 - 29:59

So noted. Item 34 please.

Unknown

29:59 - 30:00

Madam President.

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30:00 - 30:01

Majority Leader Taylor.

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30:01 - 30:06

Motion to waive the reading of item 34 through 36 and pass for the first time on a roll call vote.

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30:06 - 30:08

Second madam president. We have a motion and

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30:08 - 30:13

a second. Any discussion items 34 through 36? Hearing

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30:13 - 30:19

none, madam clerk, please call the roll. Council president Miller? Aye. Councilor Anderbois? Aye.

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30:19 - 30:30

Councilwoman Anthony is absent. Councilman Espinal? Senior deputy majority leader Gonsalves? Aye. Councilwoman Graves is absent.

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30:30 - 30:40

Deputy majority leader Harris? Aye. Councilwoman Peterson? Aye. Council president Pro Tempur Pichardo?

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30:40 - 30:45

Aye. Councilor Royas? Aye. Councilwoman Ryan? Aye.

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30:45 - 30:52

Majority Whip Sanchez? Aye. Majority Leader Taylor? Aye. Councilwoman Anna Vargas?

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30:52 - 30:59

Aye. Councilman Oscar Vargas? Aye. You have 13 ayes, two absent. The motion carries.

Unknown

30:59 - 31:02

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

Unknown

31:02 - 31:04

Thank you madam clerk. Item 37 please.

Unknown

31:04 - 31:05

Madam president.

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31:05 - 31:06

Majority leader.