Mayoral Candidate Forum - Audio online

The Providence League of Women Voters, in conjunction with URI's MPA Program at the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies hosted a Providence Mayoral Forum on September 4 at URI's Paff Auditorium on the Providence Campus. It was an informative night moderated by Scott MacKay a commentator for RIPR's (now the Public's Radio) Political Roundtable. Candidates shared their views on the proposed skyscraper in the city's jewelry district, how to solve billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities, how to improve public schools, and more.

Candidates: ROBERT A DEROBBIO, Democrat: JEFFREY E LEMIRE, Independent (present but not participating); JORGE O ELORZA, Democrat; KOBI JASON DENNIS, Democrat; and DIANNE S WITMAN, Independent

Thanks to RIPR you can listen to the full discussion here.

LWV Mayoral Debate

The Providence League of Women Voters, in conjunction with URI's MPA Program at Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies, is excited to announce, that it will host a Providence Mayoral Forum on September 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. at URI's Paff Auditorium on the Providence Campus, located at 80 Washington Street. The public is invited to hear the five candidates discuss the issues that affect the capital city.

Questions for the candidates may be sent to LWVProvidence@lwvri.org (please note that this address is case sensitive). Time will be limited, so we may not be able to ask all questions.

The program will be moderated by Scott MacKay a commentator for Rhode Island Public Radio's Political Roundtable.

Candidates:
ROBERT A DEROBBIO, Democrat
JEFFREY E LEMIRE, Independent
JORGE O ELORZA, Democrat
KOBI JASON DENNIS, Democrat
DIANNE S WITMAN, Independent

12 things to know about Providence's $749M budget

By: Dan McGowan 
Posted: Jun 18, 2018 10:05 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 19, 2018 05:17 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – If all goes as planned, Providence will have a budget in place for the fiscal year that begins July 1 by the end of the week.

The City Council Finance Committee on Monday gave its blessing to a $749-million tax-and-spending plan that differs only slightly from the proposal Mayor Jorge Elorza put forward in April.

The budget, which is comprised of a package of several ordinances, will be considered by the full council at a special meeting Wednesday night and again Friday night. The council is widely expected to support the proposal.
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How much is Providence Water really worth?

The Objective Facts Behind Elorza’s Plan to Sell Providence Water
Posted on May 6, 2018
By Providence Rules
A project on transparency in government, regulation, law and politics.
Created by Johanna Harris.

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s plan to monetize the city’s water supply is ideal material for a four-part mystery series with a twist ending.

In part one, entitled Status Quo, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission keeps the lid on the rates charged by Providence Water, constraining the utility to earn a zero rate of return. (Yes, zero.) So it’s a mystery why any potential buyer of the city’s water supply would have the remotest incentive to do so.
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Citywide Conversation at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School

Please join

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza with Councilman Seth Yurdin for a Citywide Conversation

Tuesday, January 30 at 6 PM - 7:30 PM

Vartan Gregorian Elementary School
455 Wickenden St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903


All are welcome to join this open discussion on our City and how we can work together to benefit our neighborhoods and communities.

City Hall

Here are the key staffers running City Hall for Mayor Elorza

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
Published: July 23, 2017, 10:59 pm  Updated: July 24, 2017, 2:33 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – With the announcements last week that he has hired former City Council President Michael Solomon as a senior advisor and Melissa Malone as his chief operating officer, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza appears to be shaping his staff for the final year-and-a-half of his first term in office.

Full story

Neighborhood Fiscal Budget Briefings

The Mayor's office is holding neighborhood budget briefings in conjunction with neighborhood associations.

The Wayland Square Neighborhood Fiscal Budget Briefing is May 16, from 6-7 at Nathan Bishop.

The Mount Hope Neighborhood Budget Briefing is May 17, from 6-7 at 199 Camp Street.

For more information contact Kayla Powell, kpowell@providenceri.com or 401-421-2489 x5378

People in other neighborhoods are advised to contact their local neighborhood association.

Citywide Conversation 12/13

Please join Mayor Jorge O. Elorza for a Citywide Conversation.

Tuesday, December 13 at 6 PM - 7:30 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
35 Camp St, Providence, Rhode Island 02906

WPRI: Mayor Elorza: Providence posted $9.5M surplus last fiscal year

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
Published: October 31, 2016, 11:44 am  Updated: October 31, 2016, 12:17 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Calling it Providence’s largest operating surplus in at least 20 years, Mayor Jorge Elorza announced Monday Rhode Island’s capital city ended the 2015-16 fiscal year $9.5 million in the black...

[However] Providence is still facing a $3.9-million cumulative shortfall...

Unlike an operating deficit, which only accounts for a shortfall that occurs within any one fiscal year, a cumulative deficit includes all deficits incurred in previous years. In Providence’s case, that means shortfalls during the 2011, 2012 and 2015 fiscal years...

Elorza has warned the city still faces massive out-year deficits, thanks in part to growing pension and healthcare obligations to retirees. As it stands now, Providence’s unfunded pension liability is hovering around $900 million and its other post-employment benefits (OPEB) liability is projected to be $1 billion...

Full Story

Providence may seek to borrow funds for infrastructure projects without voter approval

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
Published: October 26, 2016, 1:10 am  Updated: October 26, 2016, 10:44 am

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – With Providence’s proposed $40-million infrastructure bond all but dead, Elorza administration officials now say they are considering borrowing funds through an obscure city agency that does not require voter approval to issue a bond.

It remains unclear how much money the city would seek to borrow through a revenue bond issued by the Providence Public Buildings Authority (PBA), but the administration considers the agency a “viable alternative” to obtain funding for infrastructure projects, according to Emily Crowell, a spokesperson for Mayor Jorge Elorza.

Full Story

WPRI: 12 key things to know about Providence’s proposed firefighter deal

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
Published: October 19, 2016, 3:40 pm  Updated: October 19, 2016, 7:08 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The dispute between Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and the city’s firefighters’ union is finally nearing a resolution as the two sides have signed off on a tentative agreement for a new contract.

So what exactly is included in the proposed five-year contract?

Here’s an overview.

$40-million infrastructure bond question that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
 Published: October 18, 2016, 7:01 pm  |  Updated: October 18, 2016, 7:35 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – In a stunning about-face, Providence City Council leaders on Tuesday withdrew their support for a proposed $40-million infrastructure bond question that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot...

Even if voters do approve the bond question, Muksian-Schutt said the city will not be able to borrow the money because a spending plan is not in place.

Full Story

WPRI: 5 members of the Providence City Council refuse to support $40M bond plan

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
 Published: October 13, 2016, 11:26 pm  |  Updated: October 13, 2016, 11:35 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Five members of the Providence City Council are calling for city residents to vote against a proposed $40-million infrastructure bond unless a “clean” spending plan is released within the next week...

The councilors’ statement came a week after Mayor Jorge Elorza threatened to veto a proposal from Council President Luis Aponte that would give individual councilors more of a say over how $20 million of the proceeds should be spent. Elorza called the proposal a “slush fund.”
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The Mayor and Council contingency accounts

Daniel McGowan
May 15 at 10:25am · Providence, RI
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PVDpolitics/permalink/557078631130277/
all expenditures from the mayor and council contingency accounts dating back to the 2006-2007 fiscal year...

Mayor's account - 2006-2013
https://lintvwpri.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/mayors-contingency-account-2006-2013.pdf

City Council President Account - 2006-2013
https://lintvwpri.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/city_council_president_account-2006-13.pdf

City Council Finance Account - 2006-2013
https://lintvwpri.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/city-council-finance-account-2006-13.pdf

Mayor & Council combined FY 2014
https://lintvwpri.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/mayor-council-contingency-combined-fy-14.pdf

Mayor & Council combined FY 2015
https://lintvwpri.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/mayor-council-contingency-combined-fy-15.pdf

Mayor & Council combined FY 2016
https://lintvwpri.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/mayor-council-contingency-combined-fy-16.pdf

Lifelong Learning Collaborative: Questions and Answers with the Mayor

Lifelong Learning Collaborative

Presents

Questions and Answers with the Mayor

Wed. Mar. 30, 2016

12-1 PM

Temple Beth-El

Mayor Jorge Elorza has agreed to attend a Brown Bag lunch to answer any questions that the citizens of Providence might have for him.  First, he'll give us an update on what he has accomplished since taking office in 2015 and what he plans to do in the next year.  That will take about 20 minutes.  The rest of the time he will be speaking directly to some of our more pressing issues and answering as many questions as possible.

The event is free and open to the community.  Please feel free to bring a brown bag lunch.  Registration is not required.  Temple Beth-El is located at 70 Orchard Ave. in Providence.  Please come early as parking is limited.

Mayor Elorza Launches 3-1-1 Hotline, Mobile App For Service Requests

Residents can dial 3-1-1 from their landline or mobile phone to reach the Mayor's Center for City Services. Representatives will tend to non-emergency calls during business hours and residents will be able to leave a message during off-hours. Calls will be tracked 24 hours a day through a comprehensive database, which will allow the city to monitor the incoming flow and types of requests, and follow up with residents with updates.

The PVD311 mobile application is available to download now on iOS through the Apple App Store and for Android on Google Play...

In addition to the mobile app, the City of Providence also offers 24-hour online assistance at http://providenceri.com/pvd311.

Full Story

Providence Budget at Risk Due to Fire, Questions Over Tax Base

Tuesday, March 01, 2016
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle

The City of Providence must submit its Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal in less than two months, and the city’s internal auditor and council members are questioning projections based on uncertainties surround fire litigation — and assertions by the city that the tax base is expanding.

Full Story

ResilientPVD Lab Feb 1 - 3

On February 1st through the 3rd, a team of experts from around the country will come to Providence for three days of charrettes, workshops, and community meetings to explore how Providence's infrastructure, buildings, and neighborhoods can prepare for the impacts climate change. Join Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Office of Sustainability February 1st at 6 PM for a community workshop, and February 3rd at 6 PM for the final presentation...

The Office of Sustainability has invited hundreds of stakeholders to participate in various events over the course of the three days. Residents and other community members are encouraged to participate in the evening workshop on the 1st, which will be held at Providence Career and Technical Academy, and the final presentation on the 3rd, which will be held at 444 Westminster St. Both events are at 6 PM. Please click here for more information and to register...

Full Story

Citywide Conversation - Tuesday, January 26at 6 PM - 8 PM

Citywide Conversation
Tuesday, January 26at 6 PM - 8 PM

Mount Pleasant High
434 Mount Pleasant Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02908

Please join Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan for a Citywide Conversation.

Join the conversation about how we can work together
to benefit our city.

For more information: Grace Diaz gdiaz@providenceri.com

Mayoral assistance with City services‏

The Mayor’s Center for City Services is a new constituent service office. Located on the first floor of City Hall, City Services provides a streamlined and responsive experience for anyone seeking assistance from the city. Residents can stop in, or simply call 421-CITY to speak directly with a staffer.

City Services is also expanding to every corner of Providence to better connect with residents. A new, mobile City Services van is traveling to locations throughout the city, providing the same high-quality service available at City Hall. And there will be Community Office Hours – a new initiative that brings City Services staff directly into supermarkets, community events and other locations.

The first Community Office Hours are Tuesday, August 11 at Compare Foods, 863 Broad Street, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 15 at the Hope Street Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.