City of Providence Seeks Community Input Ahead of JUMP Bike Share Program Launch

Bike Share is coming to Providence! We’ll soon be rolling out 400 JUMP bikes for anyone to use, and we want to hear from you!

Attend an upcoming Open House event to learn more, see an e-bike, and share your ideas about where you would like to see bike share hubs in our community.

Four bike share outreach events are planned as follows in Providence:

• Monday, March 19, 12:00-2:00pm - Downtown Open House, 444 Westminster Street, First Floor
• Monday, March 19, 6:30-8:00pm - West Side Open House, West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA), 1560 Westminster Street
• Tuesday March 20, 6:30-8:00pm - East Side Open House, Brown RISD Hillel, 80 Brown Street
• Wednesday, March 21, 6:30-8:00pm - South Side Open House, SWAP Community Room, 500 Broad Street

Residents will also have the opportunity to voice support for bike share hub locations during an online campaign in late March. The final station map will be announced in summer 2018.

For more information follow JUMP Bikes on Facebook and check out their website at jumpbikes.com/about.

Contact:
Victor Morente, Press Secretary
401-441-4995
vmorente@providenceri.gov

Providence 311 - Phone App

At our February 15 Conversation, Michael Borg, Executive Director of the Department of Public Works sang the praises of using the Providence 311 app on your smart phone. He said he loved getting photos of problems like potholes tagged with the location provided by gps.

So, the question is, where do you get this app?
There are two options: 1) Go to http://www.providenceri.gov/  on your phone and select "PVD 311" on the Menu, or 2) go to the app store on your phone and search for "PVD 311".

The PVD311 system is a link to all city departments and services. So, once you have the app on your phone and see for example a pothole that you'd like to report, select "Submit New Request" and then "Streets & Sidewalks" and then "Road Repair."

On the next screen you will see a map with your location, if that is correct select "Next" or type in the correct location and select "Next."

On the next screen you can add a photo, create an account (to track the request), select whether or not to make the request public, and finally "Submit Request."

A Budget Primer

Everything you should know about Providence’s improving-but-still-shaky finances
By Dan McGowan
Published: February 8, 2018, 1:12 pm  Updated: February 8, 2018, 1:51 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Mayor Jorge Elorza used part of his State of the City address this week to tout progress on Providence’s short-term finances but also warn that the city still needs to address its massive unfunded liabilities for retirees. And he wasn’t just being cute with his words.

So how is it possible report budget surpluses while also staring down billions of dollars in long-term problems?

Here’s a cheat sheet that might help explain things.

State Finances/School Repairs

The following articles are not new but worth keeping track of.


A WPRI.com cheat sheet with key facts on the $9.4-billion tax-and-spending proposal
By Ted Nesi
Published: January 18, 2018, 4:00 pm  Updated: January 18, 2018, 9:37 pm


Raimondo’s $1 Billion School Rehab Initiative Will Only Address One-Third of Need
Friday, January 19, 2018
GoLocalProv News Team

LWV Conversation: Clearing the Streets of the City

Providence League of Women Voters Invites you to a Providence Conversation

Providence: Clearing the Streets of the City

Rhode Island has weathered blizzards, snowstorms, ice, and floods. Meet the man behind the Herculean challenge of Clearing The Streets.

Guest:  Michael Borg, executive director, Department of Public Works City of Providence


Date: Thursday, February 15, 2018
Place: 603 Angell St, home of Liz Head
Time: 7 pm - 8:30 pm

For more information, 401-351-2269, or emhead603@hotmail.com

Report: Providence tax deals lack compliance, transparency

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter
Published: January 9, 2018, 12:45 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – There is “widespread noncompliance” with annual reporting requirements for recipients of tax breaks in the city of Providence, according to a review of the special deals released Monday by the city’s internal auditor’s office.

The 95-page report on the city’s 52 active tax stabilization agreements (TSAs), prepared at the request of the City Council, also suggests there “is not an easy or transparent way” for the public to learn about the incentives that are currently in place.

Full WPRI Story

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.