State Government

New legislator meets with constituents

Summit resident and SNA member Ralph Mero, left, has a one-on-one discussion with Rep. Aaron Regunberg Monday evening at Rochambeau Library.

Several Summit residents seized the opportunity Monday evening to talk one on one with Rep. Aaron Regunberg at the Rochambeau Library.

The newly elected Democrat represents District 4 in the General Assembly and has instituted a “Hold Your Rep Accountable” program in which he will be available for constituents to drop in and share ideas or questions with him.

By 6 p.m. Monday, halfway through the two-hour time allotted, about 10 local people, some of them members of the Summit Neighborhood Association, had sat down with Regunberg to discuss topics as diverse as solar power and dying with dignity. Each person had as much time as needed as the others waited, munching on donuts the legislator provided.

The intimate session was in contrast to a larger community discussion Regunberg held in November and he promised to have another such event in the coming months. His notification of Monday’s meeting said he thinks “it’s valuable to have this regular accessibility,” but in the meantime, “feel free to reach out to me anytime by email or phone.”

By SNA Admin, ago

City-wide events for mayoral inauguration

Dear Community Leaders,

We are marking the inauguration of Mayor-elect Jorge O. Elorza with a city-wide celebration, and a call to community service. Can you help us publicize the following events?

Thank you so much,
Meg Clurman
Inauguration Director
Office of Mayor-elect Jorge O. Elorza
Saturday, Jan. 3, 10:00am – 2:00pm

One Providence Day of Community Service Food Drive. Please contribute non-perishable food items to the following locations:

  • Eastside Market 10 am – 2 pm
  • Whole Foods (University Heights) 10 am – 2 pm
  • Compare Foods (Broad Street) 10 am – 2 pm
  • Knight Memorial Library 12 pm  – 4 pm
  • Rochambeau Library 12 pm – 4 pm
  • Mt. Pleasant Library 10 am – 2 pm

Sunday, January 4th

Children’s Inaugural Celebration
at Providence Children’s Museum
Sunday, January 4  |  12:00 – 3:00 PM

In celebration of the inauguration of Providence Mayor-elect Elorza, join a resource fair at Providence Children’s Museum to learn about and try activities with Providence-based arts/education nonprofit organizations, including the Children’s Museum, Manton Avenue Project, Partnership for Providence Parks, Providence Children’s Film Festival, Providence CityArts for Youth, Providence Community Library, and Providence Public Library.

  • Build flyers and send them floating through wind tubes with Providence Children’s Museum.
  • See one-act plays from Manton Avenue Project’s recent production, Good Neighbors: the Olneyville plays!
  • Build, create and explore using recycled materials with the Partnership for Providence Parks.
  • Try an animation activity with Providence Children’s Film Festival.
  • Create a book about arts and culture in Providence with Providence CityArts for Youth.
  • Join Providence Public Library children’s librarians for story readings.
  • And more!

Activities are included with Museum admission of $9.00 per person. Admission is free all day, from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, for Museum members and for Providence residents with ID or proof of residence. For more information, visit www.ChildrenMuseum.org


Monday, January 5 – Inauguration Day

1:30pm: Seating opens for Inauguration Ceremony, steps of Providence City Hall
2pm: Inauguration Ceremony
3:00pm: Reception with Mayor Elorza, City Hall, second floor

Unfortunately, the 7 pm One Providence Celebration is currently sold out. Click here to add your name to the waiting list. However, volunteering to help at the event gets you in for the night! Please click here to sign up as a volunteer.

By SNA Admin, ago

SNA’s Rhode Island Gubernatorial Forum

On Wednesday, July 30, 2014 the six candidates from the two major parties vying for the opportunity to run for governor of Rhode Island came to Summit to ask for support.

On stage at Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave., Republicans Ken Block and Allan Fung joined Democrats Todd Giroux, Clay Pell, Gina Raimondo and Angel Taveras in a question-and-answer forum sponsored by the Summit Neighborhood Association and attended by about 135 residents, supporters and news-media members.

Video courtesy of Steve Ahlquist.

[iframe width=”480″ height=”360″ src=”//www.youtube.com/embed/Qq1duLeRTYk?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen]

By SNA Admin, ago

Aspirants to be governor come to Summit seeking support at second political forum

Candidates, from left, Ken Block, Allan Fung, Todd Giroux, Clay Pell, Gina Raimondo and Angel Taveras appear at the second of two SNA-sponsored public forums.

See the video of the event by Steve Ahlquist…

On Wednesday, July 30, the six candidates from the two major parties vying for the opportunity to run for governor of Rhode Island came to Summit to ask for support.

On stage at Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave., Republicans Ken Block and Allan Fung joined Democrats Todd Giroux, Clay Pell, Gina Raimondo and Angel Taveras in a question-and-answer forum sponsored by the Summit Neighborhood Association and attended by about 135 residents, supporters and news-media members.

Introduced by SNA President Dean Weinberg, board member and moderator Thomas Schmeling, assistant professor and chair of the political science department at Rhode Island College, posed a series of questions developed by SNA with input from residents and audience members. The forum, which came a week after one featuring Providence mayoral and District Four General Assembly hopefuls, began at 7 p.m. and lasted until about 9 p.m.

The candidates were allowed two-minute opening statements as well as two-minute closing statements. In the opening salvos, Block stressed his intention to change the way the state does business, Fung emphasized his financial stabilization as mayor of Cranston, Giroux noted his working-class origins, Pell cited his non-elected background and new ideas, Raimondo pointed to her problem-solving record as state treasurer and Taveras recalled his mobilization to stem a $110-million deficit in Providence.

(more…)

By SNA Admin, ago