City Council E-newsletter

A Conversation With Councilwoman Balbina Young

In each issue, The Docket poses the same ten questions to one of the fifteen members of the City Council and presents these conversations as a way to provide insights into the respective backgrounds, thinking, and values of each Council member.

In this newsletter, we feature Councilwoman Balbina A. Young. First elected in 1998 in a special mid-term election, Young became the first African-American woman elected to municipal office in Rhode Island. She represents Ward 11 which includes the neighborhood of South Providence, and parts of North Elmwood, the West End, and Downtown, including the Jewelry District. Councilwoman Young was born in Providence, and was raised in Fox Pont and Smith Hill. As a long-time advocate, Young strives to improve the quality of life in her ward, and to give a voice to those whose voices have been stifled.

*********
1. How do you define public service?

I believe the biggest part of public service is taking care of the "little things." Fixing a pothole, making sure a vacant lot gets cleared of trash, finding out why a school bus is not arriving on time, creating a playground. If you pay attention to the small things, bigger problems can be averted. Of course, as a public servant, you have to be prepared for the big issues, but taking care of the small stuff can make a big difference.

2. Who are the public servants who have had the most profound positive influence on your choice to join their ranks?

I remember coming downtown to City Hall when I was in grammar school to see President John F. Kennedy speak. He was campaigning for president then, and seeing him at such a young age had a great impact on me. Locally, I have always admired State Senator Charles Walton, who became my mentor. Another person who inspired me was Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm who ran for president. Her book Unbought and Unbossed is fascinating.

3. What are your top three priorities for City Council initiatives during the next year?

My first priority is to continue work on the Prairie Avenue Revitalization Initiative (PARI). The initiative will bring life back to a long-neglected area of South Providence, and create jobs and housing. Another priority is addressing the foreclosure rates in Providence. We need to be proactive and find ways to help homeowners before they get into crisis. The third major priority is recreational programming and funding for city youth. Our neighborhood recreation centers are integral to keeping our young people active and engaged, and out of harm's way. We have to fund programs directly through the recreation centers because they have the pulse of their neighborhoods, and understand the solutions that will work in their communities.

4. How do you communicate directly with your constituents? How does this interaction inform your work as a Council member?

I typically have neighborhood meetings to keep in tune with neighborhood concerns. The big picture ward issues are often very different than the issues you hear directly from residents on a street-by-street basis. Later this month, I'm holding a meeting in the Jacqueline Clements Park to discuss a variety of topics. In past years I also published a newsletter called "We the People," which will be coming out with a new edition soon. Finally, I keep my ward committee members involved, and invite them to all neighborhood meetings.

5. What are some of your favorite films, books, and/or plays? What kinds of music do you most enjoy?

For movies, I like everything from documentaries to science fiction-I am a big fan of Harry Potter and Star Trek! Recent shows I've seen at PPAC include A Chorus Line and The Color Purple. My music taste ranges from light jazz to rock, classical, and even some rap music, but only the songs with positive messages. Two singers I especially enjoy are Josh Groban and Jill Scott. The books I'm currently reading are Accountable by Tavis Smiley, and The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. But in truth, I rarely get to finish any book I start!

6. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge or opportunity facing Providence today?

Race relations. People still don't want to discuss race issues, or for that matter, gender issues. We need to ask, "Why are there still barriers?" I often hear Providence described as a minority-majority city, which in and of itself is a contradiction. Race and gender are still major issues that need to be discussed in the open if we are going to have real change.

7. How would you describe the unique responsibilities of the legislative and executive branches of our city's government? What is the ideal working relationship between the two?

The legislative branch creates and develops the laws in the city, while the executive branch is in charge of governance. The charter [Providence Home Rule Charter] is very clear as to the roles of each. If you deviate from the charter, serious legal issues arise which erode effective governance of the city. Ideally, the legislative and executive branches respect each other's authority and roles, and the two work together for the common good of the city.

8. Imagine that, for one day only, you were given the power to make this world a better place; what would you do?

I would flip everything. The poor would be rich and the rich would be poor. The criminal would become a police officer, and the officer would become a criminal. The homeless would have homes, and those with homes would lose them. Basically, the powerful would become powerless and vice versa. I would like to see everyone live, for one day, in someone else's shoes. Afterwards, I would love to have a discussion and talk about how people's perspectives changed.

9. On what criteria would you ask the people of Providence to judge your performance as a City Council member?

People should look at the tenure of my job as a council person, and the work I have done. They should ask if things are better than they were 10 years ago or 20 years ago. If there were no playgrounds in your ward before, do you have any now? If homeownership opportunities were scarce before, has more affordable housing been built for low- income buyers? I hope people will not base their opinion on a vote here or there, but rather, judge the totality of my commitment to my community, and the passion with which I serve my constituents.

10. Finally, the quintessential Rhode Island question: Red Sox or Yankees?

Neither! I just like a good team, and I admire teams when they excel. However, I'm a big boxing fan. Some of my favorite boxers are Roy Jones, Evander Holyfield, and Floyd Mayweather. I also love football; the Pittsburgh Steelers are my team.