Newest Sustainability Commission Member Gives Back to City That Helped Her During COVID

by Eric Halvarson

Last Monday, Providence’s Sustainability Commission welcomed its newest member: Dawn Sumner. A lifelong city resident, Sumner never considered the role community played in her life. But after receiving help during the COVID pandemic, she is ready to give back and leave a positive impact on [...]

David Morales: State Rep, Wrestling Villain, Spider-Man… Mayor of Providence?

by Andrea Gutierrez, Eric Halvarson

David Morales had all of the things you might expect at a Tuesday night birthday party: pizza, wings, pretzels and friends. Except after singing “Happy Birthday,” the crowd gathered to watch Morales, a Democrat Rhode Island state representative, give a campaign speech at Narragansett Brewery.  [...]

The candidates, so far, in the Providence City Council Ward 2 special election

by Steve Ahlquist

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Steve Ahlquist’s Substack. Reprinted with permission. The Providence Board of Canvassers and Registration has issued a warrant to hold a Special Election to fill the vacancy for the Providence City Council in Ward 2. The Special Election [...]

Juan Pichardo- Ward 9 Councilperson

by Michelle Alas Molina

6 out of 15 City Councilors in Providence are Latino, and The Providence Eye is interviewing them to get to know each one better, as well as better understanding their views on the intersection between identity and governance.  Previous interviews can be found at these [...]

Seven Things to Know About the Proposed Providence City Budget and Tax Changes

by Bob McMahon

As the early summer days slip from June into July, there is some certainty in Providence life.  The weather forecast will start using the phrase “heat wave,” frozen lemonade will be sold by the cup, and the first quarter City of Providence tax bills will [...]

The Freedom to Read– In Providence, Librarians, Authors, and More Speak Out on Banned Books 

by Eloise Narrigan

“Our public and school libraries are more than just buildings with books. They’re spaces where kids can grow and learn, students find the resources they need to succeed, and community members of all ages and backgrounds can explore different ideas and perspectives,” said Representative David [...]

Providence is Strapped for Cash. Are Tax-Exempt Institutions Doing Enough to Help?

by Bob McMahon

Nearly half of Providence’s tax base (44%) is tax exempt. This fact requires that the 56% who pay taxes as existing property owners bear the burden anytime the city faces fiscal problems. Next year, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley wants to increase city property taxes on [...]

In Providence, Community Members Stand on the Front Lines Against ICE

by Maya Davis

On Thursday April 24th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained a man after a confrontation in front of his home in Providence. The man, a Dominican national living in the U.S. without legal authorization, had previously been arrested on multiple charges, including domestic violence, [...]

Local Food System Hit by Federal Funding Cuts

by Abby Brennan

Federal funding slashes may make it harder for food-insecure residents of Providence to access fresh food – and harder for small-scale Providence farmers and fishers to earn a living. Since 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) [...]

Providence as a Sanctuary City, Past and Present

by Lynn Holstein

On February 5th, just 16 days after Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, mayors and police chiefs from 22 New England cities convened here in Providence to discuss issues of common concern. Olivia Ebertz of The Public’s Radio covered the meeting, where one of the pressing [...]