As a social worker and public high school teacher, I want City Council to focus on laws that directly improve the quality of life for all neighbors. Here is what I propose based on extensive community conversations, my public health and policy education.
Build more housing across the city that is truly affordable.
DETAILS
ACTIONS
- Change zoning regulations to densify housing city-wide, along major public transit corridors in particular.
- Expand Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) access to all renters.
- Eliminate parking minimums.
- Explore home ownership as a means of delivering reparations in conjunction with the Providence Municipal Reparations Committee.
- Support Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) legislation that allows for current renters to become home owners, reducing family displacement, and rapid gentrification.
- Apply Housing Trust Fund dollars to exclusively develop truly affordable housing for our lowest income neighbors.
Reset Ward 9’s relationship with the Providence Police Department.
DETAILS
Actions
- Decriminalize possession of all controlled substances to reset police focus on major crime which requires community trust
- Open evidence-based Safe Consumption Sites to prevent accidental overdose and the public disposal of needles
- Support alternatives for mental health emergencies that incorporate clinicians, peer recovery specialists, and community members to rebuild trust between police and neighbors
Improve the conditions of Providence public schools.
ACTIONS
- Hire more qualified and diverse teachers, behavioral support specialists, and social workers to reduce the educator to student ratio.
- Ensure student and family access to effective IEP and 504 plans through direct council member support
- Empower individual schools to design their own relationship with Students Resources Officers (SRO’s) with student, parent and staff input– including the option to replace police presence with more counselors.
Make cheaper solar power accessible to all neighbors.
Details
ACTIONS
- Advocate at the State level to expand the Renewable Expand Growth (REG) program to incentivize more residential solar installations, which is cheaper than natural gas and more reliable during major storms.
- Organize neighbors around solar home tours to learn first-hand about the benefits of going solar.
- Incentivize the use of heat pumps in new commercial and residential buildings.
Ensure Companies Cannot Abuse Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSA’s)
Details
ACTIONS
- Sanction companies that receive TSA’s but do not report the race/ethnicity of new hires as required by the First Source ordinance.
- Create the citizens complaint form as required by Ord. 2012, ch. 2012-27, § 1, 6-7-12.
- Make all First Source Reports accessible in CSV format for transparency and visualizing trends.
Hear directly from Diego on the issues!
- Where Diego stands on safer streets, transportation choices, and mobility justice.
- The top three issues facing Providence, and how City Council can address them.
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