Stylish and well-wheeled gents and ladies enjoy a leisurely bicycle parade through downtown Providence in the city’s first-ever Tweed Ride, complete with tea!
The excursion begins at Greater Kennedy Plaza and ends at the RISD Museum for an afternoon viewing of the Museum’s newest exhibition, “Artist/Rebel/Dandy: Men of Fashion.”
A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at the office of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101, Providence, Rhode Island, on Monday, February 11, 2013, beginning at 5:00 p.m., for the following purposes:
Call to Order: The Chairperson
To consider and act upon such matters as may be considered at a meeting closed to the public pursuant to the Open Meetings Law, specifically matters permitted to be so considered under subsection (5) (disposition of public property) of Rhode Island General Laws, Section 42-46-5(a) (the Open Meetings Law).
The presentation by Carpionato Properties is scheduled during the Executive Session, which is generally not open to the public.
2013 State of the City Address
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 • (as prepared for delivery)
Photo of the Mayor delivering the State of the City from the Mayor’s Office.
Governor, Mr. President, honorable members of the Providence City Council, distinguished guests, and my fellow residents of our great Capital City –
One year ago I stood before you in this Chamber with an urgent message for our City and the entire State of Rhode Island. Providence was in peril. Despite many difficult decisions and painful sacrifices made to pull Providence back from the brink, we were still $22 million short of closing a $110 million structural deficit.
Crucial steps necessary to navigate our City safely through our Category 5 fiscal hurricane had not yet come to pass. We still needed to reform our unsustainable pensions. And we needed Providence’s large, tax-exempt institutions to contribute more.
As I stood before you on February 13, 2012, Providence was running out of cash, and running out of time. In the months that followed, there were some who said Providence could not avoid filing for bankruptcy.
Today it is my privilege to deliver a much more hopeful report on the State of our City: Providence is recovering.
Through collaborative efforts and shared sacrifice, we have all but eliminated our City’s $110 million structural deficit, and we expect to end this year with a balanced budget. Working together, we have accomplished what few believed possible.
We were determined to address the root causes of Providence’s fiscal emergency and prepared to act unilaterally if necessary. And we knew our City would never achieve a lasting recovery without addressing our unsustainable and spiraling pension costs.
In April, following months of actuarial analysis and public testimony, this City Council unanimously approved a pension reform ordinance that put Providence’s pension system on a sustainable path.
We recognized that passing the ordinance would likely lead to a high-stakes lawsuit with no real winners – because a decision in favor of the status quo would push our City over the brink. However, faced with the challenge of negotiating pension changes with more than 2,000 retirees who were not represented by a single entity, we saw no alternative.
It probably won’t be surprising that outside of Washington, some of the most rewarding places I visited during my term were places that are very engaged in the arts, that have a great arts infrastructure and commitment to the arts. Providence, Rhode Island, would probably be at the top of the list. [Via]
It is that time of year for us to take a look back and What Cheer the good and What Jeer the bad.
Work commences on the Washington Bridge Linear Park
It has been in the works for years, but finally RIDOT has started work on the Washington Bridge Linear Park.
Through a $22 million contract, RIDOT will rebuild the remaining section of the original Washington Bridge that carries the existing bikeway and a section of the original highway bridge. In the same footprint will be a much wider bikeway and linear park. It will feature a separate bikeway and walking path, scenic overlooks, park benches, flag poles, decorative lighting and landscaped planters. The project also calls for restoration of the historic, multi-arch granite façade of the Washington Bridge and two operator’s houses from which an original drawbridge was controlled.
When opened, the new linear park will be named the George Redman Linear Park, after the East Providence resident who was instrumental in making the East Bay Bike Path a reality 25 years ago. Redman continues to advocate for bike path development across the state.
Wind Turbines at Fields Point
While they were installed in January, the whole City was speculating when the would finally start spinning. Turns out they wouldn’t start up until October. But now they are finally spinning and adding some environmental goodness to the Providence skyline. Hope we’ll some more.
Overnight parking expansion
While it has been studied endlessly for years (even as the rest of the world seemed to be able to embrace it and not devolve into chaos), in April, overnight parking has finally started spreading throughout the City.
Seen in South Beach during my recent trip to South Florida.
Now that we’ve got Christmas out of the way, it is time to think about New Year’s Eve. Providence’s New Year’s tradition, Bright Night continues this year with music, food, art, and more throughout Downtown.
235 Westminster Street
5pm-8pm • December 6, 2012
Every night at Craftland we are here for your art buying needs, but tonight is extra special. Join us to celebrate this year’s 5 Providence artists who have their images on the Buy Art Providence buttons. This year’s artists are Heather Annis, Maria DiFranco, Alison Paul, Quintin Rivera Toro, and Matthew Underwood. Come meet them, see their original artwork on exhibit, raise a glass, and of course shop for one-of-a-kind gifts at Craftland.
Are you ready to have fun? RSVP on Facebook here and bring your friends!
Hope Street between Rochambeau Avenue and Sixth Street
4pm-8pm • December 6, 2012
Come feel the cheer on Hope Street for the Holidays! This year’s stroll will be HUGE! Musical trolley rides, hay ride, petting zoo, food trucks, fire jugglers, The Extraordinary Rendition Marching Band, tree and wreath sales, Children’s Film Festival Outdoor, blacksmithing, glassblowing, carolling, pictures with SANTA, local celebrities, Human Dreidel, Holiday Parade, Bar Crawl and MORE!
More on Facebook
If you plan to take RIPTA to Hope Street, be aware Route 42 will be detoured due to the road closure.
Friday, November 23 | 1:00 & 2:00 PM
In performances of Native American Tales, popular storyteller Thawn Sherente Harris shares his Narragansett culture through traditional songs, stories and dance. Harris sings, plays the cedar flute and hand drum, and invites families to join him in a customary Native American social dance. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
Performances at 1:00 & 2:00 PM; included with Museum admission of $9.00 per person; free for Museum members.
Anne Kugler, AS220 Youth Director; Justin Espinal, Youth member; First Lady Michelle Obama (Photo credit: Steven E. Purcell, Photographer, LLC) [Via: AS220]
Local arts groups continue to win National awards. This time it is AS220 Youth winning the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.
Congratulations to everyone at AS220!
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City Meetings
