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<div>----- Forwarded Message -----</div>
<div><b>From:</b> Mayor Jorge O. Elorza <citynews@providenceri.gov></div><div><b>To:</b></div><div><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 06:15:56 PM EDT</div><div><b>Subject:</b> FY22 Budget Positioning Providence as a Leading American City</div><div><br></div>
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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><em style="background-color:transparent;"> </em></p>
<p style="margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px;"><em>Dear neighbor – </em></p>
<p style="margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px;"><strong style="color:rgb(222, 113, 38);">Today I proposed a municipal budget for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) for the City of Providence.</strong> This proposal builds on past investments to position Providence as a leading American city and prepares our residents and business owners for a post-COVID world. Residents can <a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=28228595&msgid=521326&act=PJG2&c=184633&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.providenceri.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F04%2FBudget-Address-FY22_FINAL.pdf&cf=9009&v=ba18fe8d0a1d1b165d2bd8e70683c3ba589b6f155df1020a8234123f2afe31f0" style="color:rgb(222,113,38);text-decoration:underline;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>read the speech</strong></a> and <a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=28228595&msgid=521326&act=PJG2&c=184633&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.providenceri.gov%2FFinance%2FFY2022-Proposed-City-Budget-Book%2Fejse-evtt%2Fdata&cf=9009&v=7cc40325458e09c50f99cf70c5a5b5b69ec77f69dad8d88828528c4735e05791" style="color:rgb(222,113,38);text-decoration:underline;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>explore the budget</strong></a> online here. You can also watch my speech below and on my <a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=28228595&msgid=521326&act=PJG2&c=184633&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMayorJorgeElorza%2F&cf=9009&v=fecb42f723749005e26708ace9a2dc438cce6ba4c1b192c6c80d59a02ae60a69" style="color:rgb(222,113,38);text-decoration:underline;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Facebook</strong></a><strong> </strong>page. </p>
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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><strong style="color:rgb(222, 113, 38);">This budget also lays out my vision for how the American Rescue Plan Act can complement and build on the work we have done together in the last six years. </strong></p>
<p style="margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px;"><strong style="color:rgb(222, 113, 38);"></strong>These funds will help us to enact an energetic, forward-thinking agenda while delivering and sustaining it in a way that <strong style="color:rgb(222, 113, 38);">positions Providence as a leading American city.</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px;"><strong style="color:rgb(222, 113, 38);"><span class="ydp2335aebeyiv3735145118ql-cursor"></span></strong></p>
<p style="margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px;"><em>Sincerely,</em></p>
<p style="margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:0px;"><em>Jorge O. Elorza</em></p>
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This message was sent to <strong>davidjkolsky@yahoo.com</strong> from <strong>citynews@providenceri.gov</strong><br><br>
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza<br>
City of Providence<br>
25 Dorrance St.<br>
Providence, RI 02903<br><br>
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min-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContent" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5px; text-align: center; padding: 0px 18px 9px; font-weight: bold;"><strong>April 28, 2021 | Follow <a href="https://bostonglobe.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=90f9e490a860897c7155feca1&id=a1acf8fb6e&e=f0da927ff5" style="color: rgb(18, 118, 148); text-decoration-line: underline; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@DanMcGowan</a> on Twitter</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnDividerBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed !important; min-width: 100%;"><tbody class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnDividerBlockOuter"><tr><td class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 1px;"><table class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnDividerContent" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%; border-top: 2px solid rgb(180, 180, 180);"><tbody><tr><td></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;"><tbody class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlockOuter"><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top: 9px;"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContent" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times, New serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times, times new roman, serif;"><em>If you have friends or relatives who would like their own free copy of this daily briefing about Rhode Island, tell them they can <a href="https://bostonglobe.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=90f9e490a860897c7155feca1&id=215ddc48ac&e=f0da927ff5" style="color: rgb(18, 118, 148); text-decoration-line: underline;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign up here.</a></em></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;"><tbody class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlockOuter"><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top: 9px;"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContent" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, helvetica, arial, verdana, sans-serif;">LEADING OFF</span></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 100%;"><tbody class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlockOuter"><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top: 9px;"><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 100%; min-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="ydp8561455dyiv6901204780mcnTextContent" style="line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px;"><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;" data-setdir="true"><em>Happy Wednesday and welcome to Rhode Map, your daily guide to everything happening in the Ocean State. I'm Dan McGowan and since my mask has become the most fashionable part of my daily wardrobe, I think I’m going to keep wearing it. Follow me on Twitter <a href="https://bostonglobe.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=90f9e490a860897c7155feca1&id=5a8ac7d0c1&e=f0da927ff5" style="color: rgb(18, 118, 148);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@DanMcGowan</a> or send tips to <a href="mailto:Dan.McGowan@globe.com" style="color: rgb(18, 118, 148);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dan.McGowan@globe.com</a>.</em></div><br><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><strong>ICYMI</strong>: Rhode Island was up to 147,220 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, after adding 224 new cases. The most-recent overall daily test-positive rate was 2 percent, and the first-time positive rate was 15.7 percent. The state announced one new death, bringing the total to 2,664. There were 135 people in the hospital, and 361,619 residents were fully vaccinated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></font></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Sign up now</strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">: We're hosting a free virtual event at 10 a.m. on May 4 looking at how small businesses can save Rhode Island's post-pandemic economy, featuring Governor </span></font><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dan McKee</strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">. </span></font><a href="https://bostonglobe.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=90f9e490a860897c7155feca1&id=ea4c7a708e&e=f0da927ff5" style="color: rgb(18, 118, 148);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">You can register here</a><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">.</span></font></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Providence Mayor </span></font><strong style="font-size: 16px;">Jorge Elorza</strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> unveiled a $540 million budget proposal on Tuesday that holds the line on taxes, sets a $15 minimum wage for city workers, and pays for a 50-member police academy.</span></font></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The tax-and-spending plan would cover the fiscal year that spans from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The term-limited Democrat is widely expected to run for governor next year.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The budget will now head to the City Council Finance Committee for further vetting, but it is unlikely to see significant changes. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key things to know.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Holds the line on taxes</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Everyone likes to complain about Providence’s taxes, but Mayor Elorza has mostly avoided significant increases during his tenure (except when property values have spiked). He is seeking to hold the line again this year, with a residential rate of $24.56 per $1,000 of assessed value (and a 40 percent homestead exemption) and a commercial rate of $36.70 per $1,000. The car tax will be $30 per $1,000 (with a $5,000 exemption) and the tangible tax rate will be $55.80 per $1,000.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Pay increases</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Most city employees will see raises under Elorza’s proposed budget, including 4.5 percent for police, 3.25 percent for firefighters, 3 percent for members of Local 1033, and 3 percent for non-union workers, including the mayor’s staff. The teachers are currently working without a contract, and they are now negotiating with the state, not the mayor’s office.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>More money for schools</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">You can take the schools away from Providence and give them to the state to run, but you can’t stop the state from asking Providence for money. The mayor’s budget would increase the city’s contribution to the school system by $4.8 million, to $134.9 million.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>A $15 minimum wage</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">While the state is moving toward a $15 minimum wage for all workers, Mayor Elorza is calling for all city employees to earn at least that much in his proposed budget. That includes youth recreation workers this summer.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Another large pension payment</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">The city’s pension system was just 22.17 percent funded as of June 30, 2020. Mayor Elorza is seeking to dump another $93.5 million into the fund during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. That number is projected to increase by 3.5 percent a year through 2040, although it’s like the city will reamortize the fund at some point.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Police academy</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Mayor Elorza’s budget calls for a 50-member police academy that is expected to begin next month. That’s after hiring 48 new officers in 2019. The budget also includes $600,000 for a pilot program to divert certain mental health calls away from cops.</span></div></font><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br></span></div><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>The return of PVDFest</strong></div></strong><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><div style="text-align: left;" data-setdir="true"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Well, kind of. Mayor Elorza is setting aside $550,000 in his proposed budget for a PVDFest experience that he says will last several months, rather than the usual weekend summer party that so many of us look forward to. The festival is usually held in June, and even though the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be winding down, it might be too soon have tens of thousands of people gathering downtown.</span></div></font><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492layout ydp474d488eyiv0008693492layout--1-column" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; min-width: 100%; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492column ydp474d488eyiv0008693492column--1 ydp474d488eyiv0008693492scale ydp474d488eyiv0008693492stack" width="100%" align="center" valign="top"><table class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492image ydp474d488eyiv0008693492image--padding-vertical ydp474d488eyiv0008693492image--mobile-scale ydp474d488eyiv0008693492image--mobile-center" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492image_container ydp474d488eyiv0008693492content-padding-horizontal" align="center" valign="top" style="padding: 10px 20px;"><img class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492image_content" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/4ba0a79c501/1ec2cb48-1b51-402d-baf1-95675f2987c7.jpg" alt="RNCLOGO2.jpg" style="display: block; max-width: 80px; width: 200px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492layout ydp474d488eyiv0008693492layout--1-column" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; min-width: 100%; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492column ydp474d488eyiv0008693492column--1 ydp474d488eyiv0008693492scale ydp474d488eyiv0008693492stack" width="100%" align="center" valign="top"><table class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492text ydp474d488eyiv0008693492text--padding-vertical" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp474d488eyiv0008693492text_content-cell ydp474d488eyiv0008693492content-padding-horizontal" align="left" valign="top" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(64, 63, 66); font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; display: block; padding: 10px 20px;"><p align="center" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px;">PROVIDENCE REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE</span></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">NEWS RELEASE</span></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Subject</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">: Providence GOP Response To Elorza Budget Address</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">For Release: Tuesday April 27 6:15 P.M.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Contacts: DAVID TALAN 401-862-7519 </span>DaveTalan@aol.com</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;"> WILLIAM RICCI </span>ProvidenceRepublicans@gmail.com</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">The Co-Chairs of the Providence Republican Party, David Talan and William Ricci, have responded to Mayor Elorza’s annual budget address on Tuesday at 6:15 P.M. They called for </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">balancing the city budget by reducing unnecessary spending, and not by raising taxes and fees</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">; for </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">reforming the bankrupt pension system</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">; for </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">fully funding the police </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">department; for supporting the R.I. Commissioner of Education’s efforts to </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">fix the failing public school system</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">; and for emphasizing basic city services.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">On balancing the city budget, the first thing the Mayor should look at is the huge amount of money needed in each year’s budget, to temporarily keep the bankrupt pension system afloat. Most attention has been directed at the $2,000,000,000 unfunded liability for retiree pensions and health benefits, which will cause the City to go bankrupt a few years down the road (right after the current Mayor, who is term-limited, has left office). Less attention has been paid to the huge amount included in each year’s budget, just to keep this system from collapsing right now. Approximately 11 percent of the City budget (more than $80,000,000) goes for this, and the amount is projected to double in coming years. This is money that is not available to fix potholes, hire enough police, repair schools, maintain parks, and to just hold down property taxes.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">The city should </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">get out of the pension business entirely</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">. New employees should receive an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), which they own themselves. The city of Cranston did something similar a few years ago. Under Mayor Allan Fung, 401(k) retirement plans began in 2010 for the Teamsters Union, and in 2015 for the Laborers Union. We should follow Cranston’s example.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">The GOP leaders repeated proposals they have previously made, to reduce the cost of the pension system.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Reduce the pensions of retirees who get so much money, that they would have to take a pay cut, if they came out of retirement, and went back to their old jobs.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Raise the minimum age to start collecting retirement benefits, up to age 60. When Governor Raimondo reformed the state employees retirement system, she raised the minimum age for all current and future employees to collect a retirement pension. Providence needs to do the same.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Ricci and Talan urged the Mayor to make it a priority to fully fund the police department (which is now almost 100 officers below its former authorized size). Providence citizens want the police to be able to respond to quality of life issues, that neighborhood residents really care about. In particular, they called for a </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">complete ban on ATV’s </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">anywhere in the city. In addition to the traffic problems that they cause, their excessive noise makes them unacceptable anywhere at all in a crowded city. (The Mayor had previously suggested off-road parks for them to use).</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">On education, the GOP leaders urged the Mayor to fully support State Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green, and the state takeover of the Providence schools, to fix all the things that the Mayor has been unable or unwilling to do, during his 6 years in office.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Talan and Ricci noted that, even with the state takeover, the city still pays one-third of the total $400,000,000 cost of running the School Department. There are ways to trim spending, without harming the quality of our children’s education.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Transportation costs $16,000,000 a year, in the school budget. Currently, 9,000 school children are forced to take a school bus, even though almost every single child in the City lives walking distance to a nearby Elementary or Middle School. We need to return to a system of neighborhood schools, for those parents who would like to be able to choose this option (instead of having their children used as pawns in a game of musical-chairs forced busing). Talan and Ricci believe that at least half of the 9,000 students, who are now bused, would be walking to school, if their parents were given this option. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Cost savings in transportation costs would be at least $6,000,000 per year</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">Talan and Ricci also called for the Commissioner to allow an unlimited number of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">high-performing public Charter Schools </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">for parents who would choose this option. The Mayor had been an opponent of this expansion, although he recently has relented (now that he is running for Governor).</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px;">The GOP leaders also supported the Commissioner’s efforts to “</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">allow the community to be a part of the solution</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">” for our public schools. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">Talan, who is also President of the Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association, and on the Education Committee of the citywide Coalition Of Providence Neighborhood Associations, served on the Commissioner’s Design Team for Community Engagement.</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br><br>
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