Mayor Taveras Discusses Public Safety, Economic Growth During Day-long Visit to South Providence

First in Mayor's 'Days in the Neighborhood' series; Taveras and staff engage nonprofit leaders, business owners, clergy and community in effort to reduce violence and expand opportunity

Mayor Angel Taveras kicked off his "Days in the Neighborhood" series today with a day full of events and meetings in South Providence, including a walking tour of small businesses on Broad Street in which the Mayor and his staff distributed flyers about the Providence Police Department's anonymous Illegal Gun Tip Line.

The recently launched tip line - 1-855-776-7100 - offers anonymity and cash rewards up to $1,000 to people who provide information that leads to the acquisition of an illegal, functional firearm or an arrest. The tip line is based on successful models from Washington, D.C. and other cities and has been tested for anonymity by the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence.

"I understand and share the community's concerns about public safety. We must all play a role to end the senseless violence on our streets," said Mayor Taveras. "Safe cities are strong cities and strong cities build strong economies. Ending the violence on our streets is as good for business as it is for public health. But we need the business community to help us stand up against violence."

Mayor Taveras and members of his senior staff and the Office of Neighborhood Services started their day in South Providence by hosting nonprofit leaders for a discussion over breakfast at Friendship Café about the challenges and opportunities service-oriented organizations face in South Providence. Mayor Taveras provided nonprofit leaders with an overview of the city's efforts to combat violence and asked for their help to spread the word about the Illegal Gun Tip Line.

Following breakfast, the Mayor was joined by U.S. Senator Jack Reed for a visit to the Providence Fire Department's Engine 10 firehouse in South Providence to greet Acting Fire Chief Michael Dillon and on-duty firefighters and bring them coffee and donuts. Later in the morning, Mayor Taveras and Senator Reed visited Roger Williams Day Care and South Providence Recreation Center.

Mayor Taveras and Senator Reed then traveled to the Mashpaug Pond Community Boathouse on Reservoir Avenue and joined with Governor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Representative Jim Langevin and U.S. Representative David Cicilline for the announcement of a $317,000 environmental workforce grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will clean Mashpaug Pond.

In the afternoon, Mayor Taveras had lunch with South Providence local day care providers at La Gran Parada restaurant on Broad Street, and then visited St. Michael's Parish before setting out on his visit with small business owners on Broad Street.

During the walking tour, led by the organization Stop Wasting Abandoned Properties (SWAP Inc.), Mayor Taveras and Senator Reed talked with small business owners about the challenges and opportunities they face doing business in South Providence and asked them to spread the word about the Illegal Gun Tip Line.

"Today Mayor Taveras and I heard directly from folks at nonprofits like SWAP Inc. and from small business leaders who are proactively revitalizing our neighborhoods and generating job growth. I will continue working to empower entrepreneurs to create jobs and ensure that economic development includes all Rhode Islanders," said Reed, author of the Project Rebuild Act, which would provide $15 billion in targeted assistance nationwide to renovate vacant residential and commercial properties and help local communities leverage federal dollars to effectively address vacant and blighted properties in their areas.

Throughout the day, senior members of the Mayor's Office were available to meet with constituents and help connect residents with vital city services, including Deputy Chief of Staff Gonzalo Cuervo, Communications Director Mike Raia, Director of Community Affairs Ani Haroian, Director of Neighborhood Services Pleshette Mitchell and License Administrator Serena Conley.