SIMPLE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY
by Karen Hlynsky, Elmwood Neighborhood Association
Get informed about the new ward redistricting
Providence Ward Boundaries Committee has just announced four possible plans for redistricting City Wards. Compare the four plans to see how each would reshape our neighborhood wards. Attend the March 2nd public hearing (via Zoom) if you can.
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click this URL to join. https://providenceri-gov.zoom.us/j/84392091650
Or join by phone:
Dial: US: 1-646-876-9923 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 843 9209 1650
International numbers available: https://providenceri-gov.zoom.us/u/kcOa9YwxC0
Meetings are also streamed live on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/pvdmeetings
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
6:00 PM
Oppose a proposal to transport liquid propane through our neighborhoods
Sea 3 is the second largest storage and distribution terminal for LPG in the northeastern US. It is the only large-scale refrigerated storage facility in southern New England with waterborne supply access. The company has proposed transporting liquid propane to the Port of Providence by rail—up to 16 tanker cars per day. (Liquid propane has not been transported by rail before.) They would travel on the tracks that run along Roger Williams Park and through residential neighborhoods occupied mostly by people of color.
Providence Business First reported on the safety and health concerns in a February 28 article.
There has been a loud opposition by nearby residents. Linda Perri (bettylinda@aol.com) of Washington Park and Dave Talan (davetalan@aol.com) of Reservoir Triangle are organizing petitions against the proposal. Please contact them to be added to their lists.
Lend your voice to the PVD Tree Plan
A coalition of Providence community members, organizations, and City partners are reaching out residents most impacted by lack of tree canopy and other environmental injustices. PVD Tree Plan team is now asking for your input through a Tree Plan Survey found at www.pvdtreeplan.org. They will be building an action plan for creating a just, resilient, and equitably distributed urban forest in Providence.
Follow the project at PVDTreePlan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or reach out to the collective at hello@pvdtreeplan.org.
Donate clothing and household goods for Afghan refugees
Since October 28, 2021, Dorcas International Institute on Elmwood Ave has resettled 210 Afghan refugees. Dorcas continues to provide them with warm clothing, and household goods from furniture to cleaning supplies, to microwaves and toasters. If you’re able to donate any of these goods, please drop them off at the Donation Exchange at 125 Ernest Street in PVD. Get more information at 401-714-5635 or www.afghanreliefri.org/
To learn more about the Afghan refugee experience, watch this RI PBS video about a family who has settled in Rhode Island with Dorcas’s help: https://watch.ripbs.org/video/finding-hope-albcr9/
Learn to recycle right with a new learning game
RI Resource Recovery has a brand new game to help us learn to recycle right. It’s fun. It’s informative. Check it out at recyclePVD.org or reciclaPVD.org .
Be ready for the next snow storm
Help keep main roads clear for plows and emergency vehicles. When snow storms hit, parking bans are announced on radio, TV, social media, the City’s Web page, and via email to overnight parking permit holders. During a declared snow emergency, you may be ticketed and towed if you park on a posted snow emergency street.
If sidewalks on a commercial roadway are not cleared of snow, let the City know by calling 311.
Report missing road signs by calling 311, visiting pvd311.com, or downloading the pvd311 mobile app for 24/7 access.
Residents experiencing power outages should contact National Grid at 1-800-465-1212. Never touch downed power lines; report them to National Grid (soon to become PPL). In the event of an emergency, dial 911.
Help keep our neighbors warm and sheltered
If you need shelter from the cold or see anyone who does, call United Way at 2-1-1. They will direct you to a nearby facility. For tips to keep warm during freezing temperatures, visit the City’s Web site.
Unsheltered veterans can find help through 1-877-4AID-VET.
Homeless teens can call the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Call The Rhode Island Housing Help Center at 401-457-1130 for information and advice.
Montecristo goes before the Board of Licenses . . . again
Wednesday, March 2, 12:30 om Probate Court, 5th Fl
A decision to deny Montecristo Restaurant a renewal of their liquor license was made at the Board of License hearing on January 26 at 12:30 pm. The restaurant is on the BOL agenda once again on March 2 seemingly for the same request. Nearby residents have submitted multiple complaints in the past about noise and the behavior of the restaurant’s patrons. Noise continues to emanate from the establishment despite lacking an entertainment license. Montecristo Restaurant is located at 488 Elmwood Ave.
Find the BOL agenda here: https://providenceri.iqm2.com//Citizens/detail_meeting.aspx?ID=13309
Roger Williams Park Community Meeting
Wednesday, March 2, 5:00 - 6:30 pm Probate Court, 5th Fl
Learn about the new café at the Boathouse, get news from Alan and Cynthia Day of La Gondola, hear about the new pickleball court and tennis programs from Nestor Bernabe of Providence Tennis, and get updates from Ron Patalano, Interim Executive Director of Roger Williams Park Zoo.
More information here: https://rwpconservancy.org/event/community-meeting-new-cafe-pickleball-and-rwp-zoo-update/
Committee on Ward Boundaries: Public Hearing
Wednesday, March 2, at 6:00 pm Remote conferencing via Zoom
Four proposed maps for possible ward boundaries are now available at https://council.providenceri.gov/ward-boundaries/. To get the Zoom link for the March 2 hearing, please register for the hearing at the same Web site.
RIPTA & RIDOT Public Meetings for proposed service changes downtown
Tuesday, March 8, 12 pm Virtual by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6bDdbytiTP2ZFg9AI90Vdw Or join by phone: 1 301 715 8592 / Webinar ID: 850 6448 1972 Tuesday, March 8, 6 pm Virtual by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0AjiXt-URSG-csdhnlUNeA Or join by phone: 1 301 715 8592 / Webinar ID: 817 3272 1959
The deeply flawed Multi-Hub Bus Plan is officially off the table thanks to the dozens of organizations and thousands of community members who have spoken out against it since summer 2020. RIPTA and RIDOT are now focusing on the development of a new transit center on Dorrance Street.
The public meetings are an opportunity for residents to submit their input on the development of this new transit facility.
For passengers and interested parties unable to attend the public meetings, RIPTA will accept written feedback via the form below and a dedicated RIPTA voicemail, on the proposed changes through March 11.
Read more, see drawings, and submit comments at https://www.ripta.com/transitcenter/?fbclid=IwAR2zXdhpnNQ2A2rt35aR-YlpSh6O6zFxeF9bYy2hU_iqMi5WFDUSJH8PNH0
Crossroads Community Meetings
Wednesday, March 9, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Virtual by Zoom Saturday, April 2, 9:30 – 11 am at Crossroads (160 Broad St.)s
Spanish interpretation and childcare will be available.
Crossroads Rhode Island is planning a new apartment building on the vacant parking lot located at Summer and Conduit Streets. The new five-story building will provide permanent supportive apartments for 176 single adults who typically live with trauma and multiple complex health and mental health issues. The initial residents are currently living in the tower building at 160 Broad Street. The Summer Street building will allow Crossroads to eventually convert the single rooms in the tower into real apartments with multiple rooms. Crossroads is starting to think about an overall revitalization of our headquarters on Broad Street and the surrounding area and wants input from community members.
Please RSVP online at https://bit.ly/CrossroadsCommunityMeetings or by calling or emailing Amie Mbye at (401) 277-4360 or ambye@crossroadsri.org.
Public Information Session about Broad St development
Wednesday, March 16 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm Virtual by Zoom: https://providenceri-gov.zoom.us/j/88109825115
Spanish interpretation and childcare will be available.
Crossroads Rhode Island is planning a new apartment building on the vacant parking lot located at Summer and Conduit Streets. The new five-story building will provide permanent supportive apartments for 176 single adults who typically live with trauma and multiple complex health and mental health issues. The initial residents are currently living in the tower building at 160 Broad Street. The Summer Street building will allow Crossroads to eventually convert the single rooms in the tower into real apartments with multiple rooms. Crossroads is starting to think about an overall revitalization of our headquarters on Broad Street and the surrounding area and wants input from community members.
Please RSVP online at https://bit.ly/CrossroadsCommunityMeetings or by calling or emailing Amie Mbye at (401) 277-4360 or ambye@crossroadsri.org.
OTHER DEVELOPMENT NEWS
St. Joseph's Hospital building to be torn down
The former St. Joseph’s Hospital Building is being donated to the City of Providence for use as a school. However, the cost of renovating the building is now determined to cost more than building anew. The current plan is to tear it down in the next phase of School Construction. Listen to the plan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tQn5Ws9F40
Slow progress on the Reservoir Avenue Railroad Bridge
Investigative reporter, Jim Hummel recently wrote about the prolonged closure of the Reservoir Ave Railroad Bridge. That and construction of the Park Ave bridge has left thousands of people living in a you-can’t-get-there-from-here reality, in other words “in detour hell.” Read the story at the Hummel Report or in the Providence Journal.
To learn more about “progress” on the Reservoir Railroad Bridge, go to the RIDOT Web site: https://www.dot.ri.gov/projects/ReservoirRailroadBriadge/index.php
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grant Program
AARP Rhode Island invites local organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2022 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 22. Grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public spaces, transportation, housing, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Now in its sixth year, the grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live.
Last year awards went to Knight Memorial Library, Southside Community Land Trust, and Progresso Latino. To learn more, visit: https://states.aarp.org/rhode-island/your-communitys-wish-could-be-granted
Social and Family Activities
Roger Williams Park
Entrance to the zoo, natural history museum, and botanical gardens is free on the first Saturdays of the month. Check the schedule of events throughout the park at https://rwpconservancy.org/events/2022-03/
Providence Community Libraries events
Visit the PCL Website for details about events at libraries across the city.
Make sure to wear masks when in the libraries.
What else is happening?
• For City hosted, sponsored, or partnered events, visit https://www.providenceri.gov/event/
• Go Providence’s calendar of events: https://www.goprovidence.com/events/
• The www.ArtsNowRI.com calendar lists events throughout RI or virtually
CRIME and QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES
Did you Know?
The Providence Police Department currently offers an online reporting tool for non-emergency crimes and concerns, like car accidents on private property, lost property, vandalism, fraudulent use of credit card, and some types of theft.
Contacting our Police Lieutenant
Lt Carlos Sical, now in charge of Southside Police Districts 2 and 3, has 20 years of service with PPD including prior service in the Southside. Born in Honduras, he moved to Providence with his family at age 6 and grew up in the West End. Contact Lt Sical at csical@providenceri.gov; (401) 640-1789
Overnight parking permits
Applicants can visit https://www.providenceri.gov/public-works/forms/ and select Overnight Parking Application. You will need to set up a Citizen Services user account to request this and other permits, and pay with credit card or electronic check.
Trash pickup
Report a missed trash pickup by calling Waste Management at 1-800-972-4545 or 311. It may be faster – and less frustrating – to report it online at https://www.wm.com/us/en/support/missed-service.
Bulky item pick-up is free but limited to 3 items per week. This is a scheduled service; please call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule your Bulky Item Pick-up.
Yard waste pick up occurs mid-April into November or December, but might not be picked up on your regular trash day.
Report issues to the City
The City can’t fix what it doesn’t know about. Report potholes, missing and downed signs, and other issues to the City
• Call 3-1-1
• Submit geotagged photos and descriptions in the PVD311 smartphone app
• Take pictures, noting locations, and tweet @PVD311
• Report on line at https://www.providenceri.gov/pvd-311/
Get ATVs off the road
Report the location or operation of an illegal recreational vehicle by submitting an anonymous tip to 401 680 8ATV (401-680-8288).
Statewide mandates
Go to https://covid.ri.gov/ to get the latest information about masking or proof of vaccination mandates.
City of Providence Covid resources
The City’s COVID-19 website offers comprehensive information about testing, getting vaccines, financial and housing assistance, keeping small businesses and restaurants open, volunteering, and more. Connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 311, visit www.PVD311.com, or download the PVD311 mobile app on your smart phone for 24/7 access.
Rent Relief
If you are at risk of homelessness or housing instability and have faced financial hardships due to COVID-19, you may qualify for RentReliefRI. RentReliefRI helps renters get the help they need to avoid eviction or utility shutoff. Help is also available for property owners. Interested landlords can find information here. Funds from RentReliefRI are not loans and do not need to be paid back.
State of RI Covid resources
Rhode Island Department of Health’s COVID-19 information line at 401-222-8022 is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. To get vaccinated at one of the State-run sites, make an appointment at www.vaccinateRI.org.
The new #401 Health app
launched by @RIHEALTH gives you digital access to your vaccine card whenever you’re on the go.
This information was able thanks to a courtesy of ENA Communications.