City Council - Regular Meeting

Tonight gathered to do the work of the city. The idea, this idea feels especially important. We are living through difficult times. For many of our residents, the cost of living is rising faster than opportunity. In the last few days, the phrases the the phrase it's expensive to be poor keeps coming up. Some are thriving while others are still waiting for their chance. And yet all of them, every single one have placed their trust in us. That is both a privilege and a responsibility. We may not always agree in this chamber. In fact, this agreement is part of this work. But our obligation is not to win arguments. It's to serve people. It's to ensure that the decisions that we make lift those who have been left waiting and create pathways for those still trying to find their footing. We represent a city that is beautifully diverse. Diverse in background, in perspective, in experience, and in opportunity. That diversity is our strength, but also calls on us to lead with intention, to listen more closely, to act more thoughtfully, and to remember that leadership is not about standing above others, but about reaching back and bringing others forward. So tonight and in all the days we have left together, may we measure our time here not just by votes cast or meetings held, but by the lives we touch and the doors we open. May God continue to protect our beautiful city. May we lead with conviction and with values that strengthen our communities, reduce division, and ensure that opportunity is not reserved for a few but extended to all. Thank you. Thank you. Seasons of love.

Fraser responsibility. for experiences. reflection. conviction. Thank you, counselor. And tonight, the

pledge of allegiance will be led uh by President Prom Manuela. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice and justice for all.

Madam clerk, item three, please. Madame President, Majority Leader Espanol, Washington to wear the reading of item three and move approval.

Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Uh hearing none. Madam clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open. And the vote is closed. You have 15 eyes. The motion carries. The minutes are approved.

All right. Item four, please. Madam President, Majority Leader motion to weigh the reader of item four through six. Second, Madam President. Any discussion on that motion? Hearing none. All in favor? I. All oppose. Any abstensions? The motion passes. Madam clerk, please note four through six as received. So noted. Item seven. Madam President, majority leader want you to weigh the reader items seven and eight. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items seven and eight? Uh, all in favor? I

I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Please refer seven and eight to the committee on earth. So noted and thanks to the uh folks we're serving on the human relations committee are signing themselves up to serve. Item nine, please. Madam President, majority leader, motion to w the reading of item nine and pass for the second time on a roll call vote. Second, Madame President, we have a motion in a second. Any discussion on that motion?

Hearing none. Madam clerk, please open the vote and call the role. Oh, council engraves. Sorry. Your microphone's too high. Um, I'll be sure. Um, I just want to say the microphone. Can you hear me now? Yes.

Okay. I just want to say um I just feel that we need to make sure that we are separating what the rent stabilization is. There's some so much misinformation that's out there. Um and people are meshing and piecing things together. But the mayor has been speaking about and the thing that we talked about and that we signed on with him is this one little measure and it's something more like a band-aid. It's going to stop some of the flow, but it is not the rent stabilization. And I want to make sure that we are all aware of that. And I still think this rent stabilization is the right thing to do. And I think it's the best thing to do in the city of Providence because again is a we are in a city that is are mostly renters and we really need to do something that's going to be more sustaining. It's going to go on for a while and it's going to help those that need the most help and it's going to help to keep this city alive and keep our residents here. It's not going to run the people that are already here away. So, let's please vote for the people. Vote for the ones that are already here. Thank you, counselor. Further discussion on item nine? Hearing? None. Madam clerk, please open the vote and call the role. The vote is open. Council President Miller,

I. Deputy Majority Whip Andrew, I. Councelor Davidson. Majority Leader Espanol. Nay. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzalez. Nay. Councilwoman Graves. Councilwoman Graves. Deputy Majority Leader Harris. Councilwoman Peterson. I Council President Prompor Picardo. I. Council Royas. I. Councilwoman Ryan. Nay. Majority Whip Sanchez.

Hi. Majority Whip Sanchez. Councilman Taylor. Nay.

Councilwoman Anna Vargas. Nay.

Councilman Oscar Vargas. Nay.

The vote is closed. You have nine eyes. Oh, sorry. We're missing a vote. Can we open that back up? We have to redo the electronic vote. I closed it too soon. Can we do that one more time, folks? Espanol and Councilman Vargas. Nay. So there are nine eyes, six nos. The motion carries. The matter is passed for the second time on a roll call vote. Madame clerk. Madame clerk, item 10, please.

Madam President, majority leader. Motion to w the reader of item 10 and 11. Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on item 10? Councilwoman Ander.

Thank you, Council President. Just a quick note on item 10. First I want to thank this body um one for your support on this but previously uh this body has passed unanimously both the um building energy reporting ordinance and then following that a carbon neutral buildings act which requires all municipal buildings to be carbon neutral by 2040. Following the passage of those two ordinances which you all passed unanimously. Thank you so much. the city's director of sustainability, Priscilla de la Cruz, and our energy administrator, David Rogerio, have been doing an amazing job implementing those, and we have already saved 7% on our energy bills while investing in clean energy across all of our city facilities. So, thank you for that. And we are looking to partner with the mayor and his team to reinvest those savings and other funds into a revolving fund to continue funding the implementation of our carbon neutral buildings ordinance at a time when we're seeing clean energy and climate under attack from a hostile federal administration. I'm really proud to live in a city that stands up and continues to invest in our future and in local good green jobs. And so this will help us continue to do that and continue to implement the ordinances that y'all passed um earlier this session. So, I just want to thank you for your commitment. We're already seeing savings while investing in clean energy and investing in our city's future and uh let's use that to keep going. So, thank you for your support.

Thank you, councelor. Uh discussion on items 10 or 11. Councilman Guns.

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to speak on item number 11. Uh this is an ordinance that would do one simple thing and that is to ensure safety around multimmodal transportation. I'd like to thank the Province Streets Coalition for being a major advocate in this. Liza Berkin, Dilling Giles, and if this law is passed, based on the way it's written, beginning in 2027, drivers in downtown Providence, which is in our ward, will be required to come to a full stop before turning right on red uh at all intersections downtown. So, this is about um safety. It's about expanding our project vision um zero which I know councelor Anderba was uh very um much the lead on in this body. So I want to thank her for her leadership and this ultimately ensures that pedestrians, cyclists, drivers have safer streets and this aligns with uh national safety standards and gives us time to educate our public about uh the proper signage here. So uh what we're doing here is ensuring that pedestrians are safe in our city, cyclists are safe in our city. It's no secret that I've been a strong supporter of multimmodal transportation and expanding bike lanes in the city of Providence. Uh and even when we've disagreed with other uh folks on this body or uh the administration, we've stood strong and ensured that uh we're expanding our multimodal transportation specifically in Ward One and hopefully we're going to continue to do that across the city of Providence. So thank you madame president and I hope that we can pass this.

Thank you counselors. Uh further discussion 10 and 11 hearing none. All in favor? Any opposed? Any abstensions. Motion passes. Madame clerk, please refer item 10 to the committee uh the special committee on environment and resiliency. Item 11 to the committee on public works. So noted. Item 12. Madam President, majority leader, motion to wave the reading of item 12 and lay it on the table. Second, Madam President, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion here? Uh, Councilman Moryas.

Thank you, Madam President. I'll just speak quickly on item 12 um sponsored with my colleague from Ward uh 14, Council Pearson. uh quickly. This the the sort of premise of this ordinance is for to allow our seniors in the city when they volunteer in our city, they can uh receive a slight reduction in their property tax bill. And so we're incentivizing volunteerism and also while giving uh those folks a break in their property taxes. So that's the premise of it and I look forward to getting your support on it. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, counselor. Further discussion. Hearing none. Oh, Councilman Peterson, I just wanted to add, thank you for um for your sponsorship as well, Councelor Roy. I wanted to make sure that we add that this is already something that's been done in a different municipality in the state of Rhode Island. And I uh the city of Newport has been having really good success on this. So, we want to just make sure that we also offer an opportunity to our um to our neighbors because we are listening to the multifaceted approaches of how to be able to reduce um the financial burden from for our neighbors for all of our neighbors as well. Thank you. Further discussion hearing none. All in favor? I I

Any oppose? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Item 13. Madam President, majority leader motion to weigh the reading of item 13. Second, madam present. We have a motion and a second. Discussion on item 13. Hearing none. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Uh, madam clerk, please refer item 13 to the special committee on state legislative affairs. So noted. Item 14. Madam President, majority leader. Motion to weigh the reader item 14 through 16 and pass on a voice vote. Second, Madam President. Any discussion on items 14? Madam President, may we have number 16 red into the record, please? Absolutely. Madam clerk,

whereas Davy Lopes, a major league baseball star and World Series champion who grew up in South Providence, passed away on April 8th at the age of 80. And whereas as part of a lengthy career, Lope spent nine storied years at second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he won four all-star nominations. one Golden Glove award and a World Series championship. And whereas long before his major league fame, Lopes grew up in South Providence and a large family of Cape Berdian and Irish descent led by his mother Mary Rose after his father passed away when Lopes was a toddler. And whereas at Lassal Academy, Lopes excelled in both baseball and basketball, resulting in his recruitment to Iowa Weslin College where Providence native and Hope High School alumnist Michael Sarkeesian was a coach. And whereas when Sarkeesian moved on onto Washurn College in Topeka, Kansas, Lopes followed him due to their special relationship. Lopes credits Sarkeesian with stepping up as a father figure who shared life-defining experiences with Lopes. And whereas the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Lopes in 1968 after an immense college basketball and baseball career that resulted in his induction into Washburn's Hall of Fame. And whereas Lopez Lopes skipped spring training the following two years to finish his degree in elementary education. And whereas Lopes became one of the best base steelers in the history of American baseball, he boasted an 83% success success rate. And his contemporaries remember him as having an uncanny ability to identify and exploit base

running opportunities. And whereas he once stole 38 consecutive bases without getting caught, breaking a 53year-old record. And whereas Lopes had an impressively long career, stealing 68 bases after his 40th birthday and hitting more professional home runs in his 40s than in his 20s. And whereas after retiring from playing, Lopes moved into coaching, which included stints as the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and the first base coach for the Orioles, Padres's, Nationals, Phillies, and Dodgers before Lopes retired from baseball for good at age 72. And whereas the Davy Lopes Recreation Center on Dudley Street bears the name of this local legend who credits sports with teaching him discipline and keeping him out of trouble. And whereas Lope's siblings Jean, John, Judith, Mary, Nina, and Patrick survive him, as well as his daughter Vanessa, and his former wife Lynn. Lopes's mother, Mary Rose, a Providence native herself, and a former welder, domestic, and early childhood educator, passed away in 2019 at age 98. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council of the city of Providence hereby honors the life and legacy of Davy Lopes, legendary baseball player and native son of Providence and sends its sincere condolences to the Lopes family. And now therefore, be it resolved that upon passage, a copy of this resolution be sent to Davy Lopes's family, the Lasal Academy Athletic Administrator, and the Providence Department of Recreation for display at the Davy Lopes Recreation Center. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Councilwoman Harris, I was actually waiting for the sponsor who who created the idea. Councilman Gunov,

I just want to thank Councelor Harris for her leadership on this and uh for uplifting the life and legacy of Davy Lopes. As we know, Dave Lopes is this the actual recreation center is in councelor Harris's ward, but um as a proud Kverian uh member of this council, uh Dave Loes is someone that my family has always looked up to and just people in the city of Providence. So, it was actually Secretary uh Amore who reached out to me and said, "Hey, uh I'm sure you heard about the passing of Davy Lopes, and it would really be a great gesture to acknowledge his life and legacy." So, I just want to thank Counselor Harris for collaborating with me on this. And again, I want to wish um the best for him and his family and and deepest condolences uh as we um think about his life and his legacy and all the contributions he's made for the city of Providence. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilman Harris. While I stand in honor of uh David Alop, especially with the work and the legacy that he left behind, one of the things I can say um his dedication to the community and his effort to be a great person in what he's done have led a lot of children, grown-ups too, uh to David Lopes Recreation Center, which Councilman Gun cause have mentioned in my ward. These children are very much taken care of. I the best thing in my life is to at one point is to visit the kids and visit how they are treated as individuals and how they are encouraged to be really good people and better people. Obviously that is a reflection of who Mr. Lopes were us in in the work that he did in the way he represented all of us cuz you know we love people that's from Providence born native born to be some big superstar because it makes us look good as well to brag in other cities and states and countries that they were a part of Providence. So that's really beautiful. The second thing is I've witnessed these kids going in and out and being um really um involved in their recreation center and we want to thank uh Mr. Lopes for all his investment that he put into this recreation center for the kids to be able to to be there. Um the second thing that I want to bring up is the fact that the city itself have the city along with the governor have put $2.8 8 million in renovating David Lopes, which is welld deserved, well needed. Like I said, there's adults that are now grown-ups

who have had the opportunity to be able to spend time at David Lopes and become uh people that are committed and dedicated to the community. And I know the kids in this generation will be the same. I really wanted to make you guys all jealous because uh Caleb gave me four years ago a button with uh David Lopes uh picture in him when he was playing for the Dodgers. So I wanted to bring it in, show it off because one day it may be very valuable our respect to the family. Uh valuable, but I wanted you to know that it meant a lot for me to have that and to hold on to it. Um thank you Councilman for allowing me to be a part of this effort as well and we sharing in um Mr. Lope's um on honor honoring Mr. Loop together. I ask everyone to please sign on and um uh support this on this resolution tonight. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh Councilman Graves.

Um I do want to say something about the center itself. This um great man has done a lot of things for the children, but that center has served not only kids but families um groups. At one time a church had burned down and the members were able to stay and have service at that church, I mean at that um at the wreck for years while they searched for another church. So it was a meeting place for a church. It was meeting places for different um organizations. So it was adults as well that was in there. There also has been um things where they met for um people trying to re re-enter society that have gotten out of prison and did all these different things. So it helped not just children but people transess transitioning back into society. So that place has really done a lot for a lot of people. So it's David Lopes came from from here and he gave back so much that center has has really done a lot for the city of Providence.

Thank you. Further discussion 14 through 16. Uh Council God.

Thank you Madame President. I would like to speak on item number 14 and 15. These are both related to higher education. uh students in our city. The first is to make the hope scholarship permanent. That's at the Rhode Island College. Uh so the Rhode Island College hope scholarship has been a lifeline for so many students and families essentially expanding access to higher education and reducing barriers uh in our city. But right now there's a sunset provision that would threaten uh that or um that piece of legislation up at the state house. Um, and the goal is to make that permanent. So, I'd like to thank uh Dante Degre Deg Gregorio who uh brought this to our attention. Uh, Victoria Adu Gumpy and all the students at Rick who are advocating to ensure that this program could be permanent. Uh, and so they have that ability and the stability and and opportunity to pursue their their future and be able to grow and thrive. Uh the second um uh resolution is um for in support of the unionization of the graduate fellows at Brown University. So graduate fellows at Brown University. Thank you our our researchers and educators and essential contributors to the people um in our city and just in in our ward in general and their intellectual prowess is something that we're so proud of. But so many of them have been trying to organize uh to make sure that they're paid a living wage. Brown University, as we all know, has over $4 billion in assessment. Uh they need to pay their fair share. And I think the way that they pay their fair share is by paying

their workers a living wage. And I think they have the right to unionize. So, uh, this is pretty important because federal law may lag behind, but Rhode Island actually stepped forward to affirm their rights. There's, um, a provision up at the state house that allows these fellows to unionize. And ultimately, this is about fairness and transparency and respecting the work that these folks do. So, I hope that Brown University President Paxton will hear us loud and clear. We are urging them to voluntarily recognize these fellows. We're standing on the side of workers and labor and we believe that these uh graduate students but also uh fellows in general should have the opportunity to unionize. So I hope that all of my colleagues will support me in this effort and ultimately I hope that Brown University will do the right thing. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, counselor. Further discussion 14. Council

Petro. I I rise to on item number 14, the uh resolution uh for um Davy Lopes and his legacy. just wanted to uh pay homage to his family and also know that uh as a fan of baseball and growing up in the Southside and uh knowing that as a 14-year-old and knowing that someone reached the major leagues was a big thing back in the in those times. And so for those of us who love sports, especially ba uh baseball where we all know from the Dominican Republic that Juan Marichal during those time was one of our heroes early on, uh David Lopes was that hero for many of uh young men uh of color and uh just to be from Southside and the struggling families and uh as a result knowing some of their family members uh we pay homage to the family but also to his legacy and may he rest in peace. Thank you.

Thank you. Further discussion 14- 16 hearing. None. Madam clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open. Vote is closed. We have 15 eyes for items 14 through 16. The motion carries. The matters are approved on a voice vote. Item 17. Madame President, majority leader, motion to weigh the reading at 17 and 18. Second, Madam President. Discussion on 17 and 18. Hearing none. All in favor?

I. I. Any opposed? Any extension? The motion passes. Madam clerk, please refer 17 to the committee on public works uh and 18 to the committee on state legislative affairs. So noted item 19. Madam President, majority leader, motion to weigh the reading of item 19 and lay on the table. Second, Madame President,

we have a motion in a second. Any discussion on item 19? Counciloman Peterson. Thank you. Um, sorry, looking for my notes. Um, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this. I, um, this resolution is essentially just requesting a report on, uh, organizations that are in our budget. um and just tell us about the pro the impact on the funds provided um to our Providence residents. Um we keep hearing from our residents pretty often about how um we need to prioritize our spending and what I think it is part of our job as well is that we show and foster the opportunity to show our neighbors about the dollars that we expend with organizations that are doing work here. So essentially what this is doing is just um asking for a report on anybody that has um uh funding from the budget um on how their funds are used and services that are delivered and residents that are served here in the Providence area. And um we urge the administration to incorporate these reporting requirements to improve um our opportunities for transparency and accountability. Thanks. Oh, and did we say 22 or we just doing 19?

We're just doing 19. Just kidding. I'll come back. Thank you, counselor. Further discussion on 19 hearing none. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Item 20. Madam President, majority leader, motion to weigh the reading of item 20. Second. A motion and a second. Any discussion on item 20? Council Peterson.

Um, really quickly, thank you for the opportunity to speak again. Um, this resolution supports a state bill. I want to thank Senators Basilian uh Senator Basilian and also Rep. Simone for submitting it on our behalf. Um essentially what this does is it supports a state bill that would further our ability to regulate student housing um by our by allowing our city to be able to license exclusive student housing. That's it. Thank you. Uh further discussion hearing none. All in favor? Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Item 21. Madam President, Majority Leader, motion to the I'm sorry. Can you please refer item 20 to the Committee on State Legislative Affairs? Thank you, Madam Clerk. So noted. Apologies.

It no item 21. Madam President, motion to w the reading of item 21 and pass on a voice law.

Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Councilman Ryan. Thank you, Madam President. Um what is before us is a resolution uh uh lending support from the council. on Rhode Island Lead Poisoning Prevention Act provides that any water supplier that provided financing to its customers for private side service line replacement after January 1, 2018 may be eligible for reimbursement from the state for cost associated with the private side service line replacement financed by its customers subject to an appropriation of the general assembly. This is actually asking um the Providence Water Supply Board has already made a request in the general assembly. Mayor of the city of Providence wholeheartedly supports it. I am asking um the Providence city council to lend its voice to this. Um there um these are folks that did the right thing. They uh took out uh loans uh to the tune of five point about 5.6 $6 million through the program um to replace the the private side lines. Um this appropriation from the general assembly will uh make them whole and reimburse them for their costs and it's consistent with the Providence Water Supply Board's efforts to provide free replacement for all uh uh users. Uh so it's a good thing and I ask you to support this resolution.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Further discussion on 21 hearing. None. Madam clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open. The vote is closed. You have 15 eyes. The motion carries. The matters approved on a voice vote. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 22. Madam President, majority leader motion to weigh the reader item 22 through 25 and pass for the first time on a roll call vote. Second. Madam President, we have items 22 through 25. Any discussion? Hearing none. Madam clerk, please open the vote and call the role.

The vote is open. Council President Miller I. Deputy Majority Web Anderblah. Councelor Davidson, Majority Leader Espanol. Hi, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzalez. Councilwoman Graves, Deputy Majority Leader Harris. I Councilwoman Peterson by Council President Prompor Picardo. I council Royas. I councilwoman Ryan. I Majority Whit Sanchez. I Councilman Taylor. Councilwoman Honor Vargas. Councilman Oscar Vargas.

I. The vote is closed. You have 15 eyes on items 22 through 25. and they pass for the first time on a roll call vote. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 26. Madam President, majority leader, motion to weigh the reading of item 26 and 27 pass on a voice vote. Second, Madame President, any discussion on 26 and 27. Uh, Madame President. Oh, uh, Councilwoman Harris,

I'm rising on item number 27. Uh this have been vetted by the finance committee and one of the things that um that is very serious and um for me is this is a a safe place for women, men or anybody that's going through any domestics. So we're looking to help this organization help them like the way we're trying to do with all organizations. Give them a jump start. so they can have a fair balance of how to get um start their work and start the things they need to do. So I ask my colleagues to please support this um in honor of women, children uh especially children who are nowadays we're hearing that are being held um you know in sex traffic and all kind of other things as as unconditional and as bad as that may be. This is the world that we're living in. And when we live in a world that is not looking out for um vulnerable people, we should be able to be a part of anybody else that's doing that work. So I ask again my colleagues to please support this.

Thank you counselor. Further discussion 26 or 27 hearing. None. Madam clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open. Vote is closed. You have 15 eyes. Items 26 and 27 are passed on a voice vote. Thank you. Item 28. Madam President, majority leader motion to weigh the reader at 28 through 30. Pass on a voice vote and refer back to the board of contracts and supply. Second, Madam President.

Thank you. Items 28 through 30. Any discussion hearing? None. Madam clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open. The vote is closed. You have 15 eyes. Items 28 through 30 are passed on a voice vote and referred back to the board of contract and supply. Item 31. Madam President, majority leader

motion to wave the reading of 31 and 32 and receive and approve. Second, Madam President. We have a motion in a second. Any discussion on 31 and 32. Council Peterson, if we could just um congratulate uh Tim Hanlin as our new city register. I believe he's still upstairs. Um, if you want to just wave hello. He has his family all here. It's a new position for the city and it's an exciting opportunity for us. So, we're too lazy to stand.

Thank you, counselor. Uh, further discussion 31 or 32? Hearing none. Madam clerk, please open the vote. Vote is open. The vote is closed. We have 15 eyes on items 31 and 32 and they are received and approved. Thank you. Congratulations to you, Tim. And uh also to the honorable Maria Deon on your reappointment. Item 33. Madam President, majority. I'm sorry. What's happening?

Sorry, I had my hand raised. I just wanted to say Tim, you've done an excellent job. That's all I want to say. Thank you for all that you do. Missed your missed it. Sorry, counselor. Item 33. Madam President, Majority Leader Motion to the reading of 33 and pass on a voice vote. Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on item 33? No. Okay. Uh, Madam Clerk, please open the vote. The vote is open. The vote is closed. You have 15 eyes. Item 33 is passed on a voice vote. Thank you. Item 34. Madam President, majority leader motion to weigh the reader and 34 through 41.

Second, Madame President. Any discussion on items 34 through 41? Hearing none. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Madam clerk, please note uh Okay. Thank y'all for being here. Thank y'all for being here. Uh, madame clerk, please note 34 35 as received. 36, please refer to the committee on ordinances. 37 to the committee on claims and petting suits. 38 through 41 note as received. So noted item 42.

Madam President, majority leader, Washington weigh the reader item 42 and pass on a voice vote. Second, Madam President. Any discussion? Council House.

Thank you, Madam President. Just a point of personal expression. And I know the majority leader is going to mention this individual, but I I just wanted to uh send my deep condolences to the family of John Fernandez Pereira or Jah Pereira. He's um longstanding uh member of the Fox Point community. Uh was someone who immigrated uh to Fox Point from the Cave Islands. One of the very few Caveverian families that uh still live in the neighborhood. Um but he passed away April 4th, 2026. And he was a food service worker at Brown University for over 33 years. Um enjoyed cooking and listening to music. He would call me every year to go over property taxes and I know he survived by his wife uh Candida Pereira. Uh and just such a beautiful family in in Fox Point. So, I just want to wish them and their family um my my deepest condolences and um uh it's just it's heartbreaking to lose such a a fixture in our neighborhood. So, I I just wanted to um say if we could um end the meeting um in his his honor, but also um to have a moment of silence uh for him, I'd greatly appreciate that. Thank you.

Thank you counselor. Further discussion on 42. Yes, for the opportunity to give it to me. So my family have a couple day you know for my auntie has passed away. So that's the reason yesterday being running late and today we you know go to the cemetery. So I would like to say thank you my auntie for be with us for a long time to give you love forever. The name is in noa and she passed away last week. So today was the cemetery and all the procedure for yesterday. Thank you my colleague.

Thank you counselor. I'm sorry for your loss. Further discussion on 42. Madam President, Councilman. Moment for personal expression. Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to uh Wait, go ahead. Yes. Discussing item 42, but go ahead. We're almost we're almost done. Yes. Any discussion on 42? Let's vote on 42 and then uh I will acknowledge the counselor for a point of personal expression. All in favor? Any oppose? Any obstensions? The motion passes. Councilman Picara.

Thank you very much. I just want to take a second to thank everyone uh for the uh process that we went through to make uh get us to this point in a historical time in passing red civilization. uh as it continues to be an issue that we could deal and that overwhelmingly we passed it uh today and I hope that everyone continues the the fight and today we made history. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Majority Leader,

I ask that we all rise as we prepare to adjourn in the memory of those that have passed away. First, I'd like to adjourn in the name of David Lopes, a Southside Fax Point giant who contributes so much to our society. We extend our deepest condolences to his family. Uh to the council person that represents uh the place where we lived and where uh David Lopes recreation center is located. We also tonight like to adjourn in the name of Joel Pareda, Vicky Jones, Orlando Paserelli, Morocco, Jack Quiline Mary, and the aunt of our colleague uh Anna Vargas Inz Noir. May they rest in peace.

Rest in peace. Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? Any oppose? Any extensions? We are adjourned. Thank you counselors. Thank you.